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Initial jobless claims climb
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August 17, 2000: 8:58 a.m. ET
Number of people filing for benefits breaks critical 300,000 barrier
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits rose to 313,000 in the week ended Aug. 12 from a revised 299,000 the prior week, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday.
 Economists polled by Briefing.com had forecast U.S. jobless claims of 288,000 for the period.
The four-week moving average of claims, however, which generally provides a more accurate picture of jobless trends, remained at 290,000 in the Aug. 12 week, unchanged from the revised total for the previous reporting period.
Continued claims rose to 2,107,000 for the Aug. 5 week, the latest data
available, from a revised 2,100,000 in the prior period.
California, Texas, Wisconsin, Connecticut and Puerto Rico all reported an increases in claims greater than 1,000. Texas cited more layoffs in the textile and paper industries, and Wisconsin reported layoffs in the construction industry. Puerto Rico, California, and Connecticut had no comment. 
-- Compiled by Tatiana Helenius
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