The Labor Department cautioned that the initial claims data are very volatile this time of year because of holidays and the large expected swings in seasonal employment. The government is trying to adjust the data for those factors. The four-week average of new claims, fell by 9,750 to 316,750, the lowest since Aug. 20. The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Dec. 24 were in Michigan, while the largest decreases were in North Carolina. |
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