Although nine states reported fewer layoffs in manufacturing during the week ending Nov. 18, nationwide initial claims for unemployment insurance increased last week to 321,000, the U.S. Labor Department reported on Nov. 22. That figure was an increase of 12,000 claims from the previous week's revised total of 309,000.
The department's four-week moving average of initial claims also increased, rising to 317,000 last week, 3,000 claims more than the previous week's revised average of 314,000.
