Jobless Claims Edge Down from Previous Week

Washington, DC, June 21, 2012 -- Initial applications for unemployment benefits edged down from the week before, according to the Labor Department.

Jobless claims declined by 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 387,000 in the week ended June 16, the Labor Department said.

Claims from two weeks ago were revised up to 389,000 from an original reading of 386,000, based on more complete data collected at the state level.

The average of new claims over the past month, meanwhile, climbed by 3,500 to 386,250, marking the highest level in almost seven months.