Continuing Jobless Claims Fall

Washington, DC, June 18, 2009--Continuing jobless claims fell by 148,000 to 6.68 million during the week ending June 6, the Labor Department said Thursday.

It was the lowest since May 9.

Initial claims, however, rose by 3,000 to 608,000. The four-week average of continuing claims rose by 2,250 to 6.75 million.

The insured unemployment rate -- the proportion of insured workers who are collecting benefits -- fell to 5.0%, down 0.1 percentage point.