Unemployment Claims Rise to 2005 Level

Washington, DC, November 29, 2007— The number of Americans getting state unemployment benefits jumped to close to a two-year high in the last week, the federal government said Thursday.

Continuing unemployment claims rose by 112,000 in the week ending November 17, to 2.66 million, the highest mark since December 24, 2005. Initial unemployment claims also surged in the latest week, rising by 23,000to 352,000 during the week ending November 24, their highest level since February 10.