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Jobless claims edge up
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March 30, 2000: 9:06 a.m. ET
Gain is 3,000, but four-week moving average lowest since December '73
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits rose to 266,000 for the week ended March 25, from a revised 263,000 the week before, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 269,000 initial claims for the period.
The four-week moving average of claims, which generally provides a more accurate picture of jobless trends, dropped to 268,000 for the reporting period from a revised 270,250 the week before. The four-week average reported this period is the lowest since 256,750 in the week ended Dec 15, 1973.
 Continued claims were reported at 2,000,000 for the March 18 reporting period, the latest data available.
Texas was the only state reporting an increase in claims of more than 1,000 in the week ended March 18, blaming layoffs in the apparel, and publishing industries.
California, New York, Tennessee, and Washington reported decreases in claims of more than 1,000 for the same reporting period. Tennessee reported fewer layoffs in the apparel, rubber/plastics and transportation industries.
New York, Washington and California had no comment. 
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