Washington, DC, January 4, 2007-- The number of workers filing for state unemployment benefits for the first time rose by 10,000 to 329,000 in the week ended December 30, the highest amount since November 25.
Claims in the previous week were revised higher, to 319,000 compared with the initial estimate of 317,000.
The four-week moving average for new claims rose 1,250 to 317,500. This is the highest level since the week ended December 16.
The number of former workers continuing to receive state unemployment checks fell 76,000 to 2.44 million in the week ending December 23. This is the lowest level since the week ended November 11.
The four-week average of continuing claims fell 16,000 to 2.48 million, the lowest level since December 2.
