Jobless claims slip back to 639,000
Smoothed trend for continuing claims marches higher
By Rex Nutting, MarketWatch
Last update: 8:52 a.m. EST March 5, 2009
Comments: 78
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- The number of workers filing for state unemployment benefits fell by 31,000 to a seasonally adjusted 639,000 last week, while the smoothed average of continuing claims moved higher into record territory, the Labor Department reported Thursday.
First-time claims fell back from a 26-year high of 670,000 the previous week to 639,000, likely because of difficulties adjusting for the federal Presidents Day holiday. Read the full government report.
