Despite additional manufacturing layoffs in nine states, the number of first-time claims for unemployment insurance across the U.S. fell to 308,000 last week, 2,000 claims fewer than the previous weeks revised figure of 310,000, the U.S. Labor Department reported on Nov. 16.
The departments four-week moving average edged up, however. For the week ending Nov. 11, the average was 313,750, an increase of 2,000 claims from the previous weeks revised average of 311,750.
Both the latest weekly figure and the moving average were slightly less than the levels economists generally expected.
