Initial Jobless Claims Fall By 1,000

August 4, 2005 8:45 AM, EDT

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he number of U.S. workers filing for initial unemployment benefits fell by 1,000 to 312,000 for the week ended July 30, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

The drop was in contrast to analysts’ forecasts of an increase to 315,000, Bloomberg reported.

The four-week moving average, a less volatile measure, fell to 316,750 from 319,000.

The number of people filing continuing jobless claims decreased to 2.581 million the week ended July 23, from 2.599 million the previous week, Labor said.