In the week ending August 27, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 232,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 6,000 from 243,000 to 237,000. The 4-week moving average was 241,500, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised down by 1,500 from 247,000 to 245,500. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.0 percent for the week ending August 20, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured ... (full story)

Initial filings for unemployment insurance fell to their lowest level since late June last week, a sign that the labor market is resilient amid a slowing economy. Claims totaled 232,000 for the week ended Aug. 27, a decline of 5,000 from the previous period and the lowest since June 25, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been looking for 245,000. Continuing claims increased to 1.44 million, up 26,000 from the previous level in data that runs a week behind the headline number. The numbers come a day ahead of the closely watched nonfarm payrolls report for August, though it is ... (full story)