Jobless Claims Up 15,000

Washington, DC, May 24, 2007--Jobless claims rose 15,000 to a seasonally adjusted 311,000 in the week ending May 19, according to a Labor Department report.  It was the first increase in the last six weeks.

The four-week moving average of initial dropped by 3,500 to 302,750, the lowest since late February 2006.

The number of people collecting unemployment checks rose by 58,000 to a seasonally adjusted 2.53 million in the week ending May 12. The four-week average of continuing claims fell by 14,750 to 2.51 million.