First time jobless claims little changed in week

First-time unemployment claims held close to stable in the week that ended Saturday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said. In Thursday's weekly report, the bureau said initial benefit claims rose by 1,000 to 308,000. The prior week's estimate of 305,000 first time claims was revised higher to 307,000. The four-week rolling average for first-time claims was 305,000, down by 3,750 from the previous week. The largest increases in initial claims for the week that ended Sept. 21 were in Oregon, where claims rose by 489, New Jersey, up by 327, and Massachusetts with 306 additional claims. The largest decreases were in California, down by 3,754, Georgia, down by 2,719, and New York with 2,376 fewer claims.