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Jobless claims rise
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April 12, 2001: 9:00 a.m. ET
Number of initial unemployment filings at highest level since March 1996
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - The number of new jobless claims in the United States rose to its highest level since March 1996, the government reported Thursday, with the figure topping economists' forecasts.
The U.S. Labor Department said 392,000 new claims for state unemployment benefits were filed in the week ended April 7, up 9,000 from 383,000 in the prior week.
A consensus of economists surveyed by Briefing.com expected 380,000 claims for the week.
The closely watched four-week moving average rose 3,000 to 380,500 from the previous week's numbers of 377,750, the highest average since April 1996. Economists watch the four-week moving average more closely because it gives a better reading on the health of the labor market by smoothing out fluctuations in the weekly data.
One state -- Indiana -- and one territory -- Puerto Rico -- reported increases in claims of more than 1,000 in the week ended March 31, the latest period for which the data are available. Indiana cited more layoffs in the transportation equipment, electrical equipment, furniture and rubber/plastics industries.
--from staff and wire reports 
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