Layoffs Rise as New Year Begins

Washington, DC, Jan. 15, 2009--Initial jobless claims last week rose more than forecast, signaling companies stepped up the pace of firings at the start of the year.

Initial jobless claims jumped by 54,000 to 524,000 in the week that ended Jan. 10, from a revised 470,000 the prior week, the Labor Department said today in Washington. The total number of people collecting benefits decreased from a 26-year high.

The worst holiday sales season in at least four decades and the lack of credit will probably prompt even more payroll reductions in coming weeks and months. President-elect Barack Obama, who takes office next week, has proposed a stimulus plan aimed at saving or creating up to 4 million jobs.