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Jobless claims fall again
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July 27, 2000: 8:58 a.m. ET
New claims dip below 300,000 to lowest level since mid-April
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell to 272,000 for the week ended July 22 from a revised 312,000 the prior week, the U.S. Labor Department said Thursday.
 Jobless claims have fallen two weeks in a row and are at their lowest level since April 15.
The four-week moving average of claims, which generally provides a more accurate picture of jobless trends, fell to 299,250 from a revised 308,000.
Continued claims rose to 2.19 million from a revised 2.13 million the prior week.
Nine states reported an increase in claims of more than 1,000 in the week ended July 15, the latest period for which data are available. Among the largest were North and South Carolina, which had big layoffs in the textile industry. Michigan and Wisconsin, which were among the nation's leaders in layoffs in the prior week, recovered to lead the nation in decreases in claims in the July 15 week.
Prior to the two-week decline, jobless claims had been drifting higher -- which economists saw as a sign the red-hot labor market might have been cooling a bit.
The Federal Reserve has boosted interest rates six times over the last year to slow economic growth and keep inflation in check. There have been indications in some recent economic reports, including retail sales and home sales, that the Fed's rates increases are working. 
-- from staff and wire reports
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