Jobless claims rise for second straight week!
NEW YORK - December 17, 2009 - New U.S. claims for unemployment benefits climbed for a second straight week but remained below the level of 500,000, government data showed Thursday.
New claims in the week ending December 12 rose to 480,000 from the prior week's revised 473,000, according to the Labor Department.
Most private economists had expected a drop in seasonally adjusted new claims to 465,000.
The four-week moving average, a less volatile indicator than the week-to-week figures, fell to 467,500 from the previous week's revised 472,750.
The insured unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.9% from the previous week in the week ending December 5.
The number of people receiving jobless benefits in the week ending December 5 was 5,186,000, a slight rise from the previous week's revised 5,181,000.
New claims in the week ending December 12 rose to 480,000 from the prior week's revised 473,000, according to the Labor Department.
Most private economists had expected a drop in seasonally adjusted new claims to 465,000.
The four-week moving average, a less volatile indicator than the week-to-week figures, fell to 467,500 from the previous week's revised 472,750.
The insured unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.9% from the previous week in the week ending December 5.
The number of people receiving jobless benefits in the week ending December 5 was 5,186,000, a slight rise from the previous week's revised 5,181,000.
