WASHINGTON (AP) - New jobless claims fell last week for the
third time in four weeks but remain elevated.
The Labor Department says first-time claims for unemployment
insurance dropped by 11,000 to a seasonally adjusted 457,000.
Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters had expected a smaller drop.
Claims have fluctuated this month due to temporary seasonal
factors. General Motors and other manufacturers skipped their
traditional summer shutdowns, which led to fewer layoffs and
unemployment claims. But the impact of that distortion has largely
faded from the data, a Labor Department analyst said.
The four-week average of claims, which smooths fluctuations,
dropped to 452,500, the lowest level since May. Economists say
jobless claims need to fall to at least 425,000 to signal sustained
job growth.
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