Jobless Claims Up 16,000 Last Week

Washington, DC, October 4, 2007—Jobless claims rose by 16,000 to 317,000 in the week ended September 29, according to a Labor Department.

The economists were expecting a rise to 310,000 from the preliminary reading of 298,000 in the week ended September 22.

The four-week moving average of new claims, watched for trends in the labor market, edged up to 312,750 from 312,250 the week before.

The number of people who remained on state benefit rolls after drawing an initial week of aid fell by 10,000 to 2.54 million in the week ended September 22, the latest period for which figures were available. Economists had forecast 2.55 million.