Washington, DC, May 4, 2006--First-time applications for unemployment benefits drifted higher by 5,000 last week to 322,000, the highest level since Nov. 19, the Labor Department reported Thursday.
The four-week average of seasonally adjusted new claims rose by 5,250 to 314,250, also the highest of the year.
The number of people collecting unemployment checks rose by 21,000 to 2.46 million in the week ending April 22, the highest level in five weeks.
The four-week average of continuing claims rose by 7,500 to 2.44 million from a five-year low of 2.43 million. The insured unemployment rate--the percentage of those eligible for benefits who are receiving them--remained at 1.9%.
