Initial Jobless Claims Drop Slightly for Week

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he number of U.S. workers filing for initial unemployment benefits fell 1,000 to 319,000 for the week ended Sept. 3, the Labor Department said Thursday.

Hurricane Katrina, which hit the Gulf Coast region Aug. 29, hampered efforts by newly unemployed people in the region to file claims, Bloomberg reported.

The four-week moving average of claims, a less volatile measure, rose to 318,500 from 316,500 for the week ended Aug. 27, Labor said.

The number of people filing continuing jobless claims fell to 2.593 million, from 2.598 million the previous week, the department said.