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Jobless claims move lower
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August 16, 2001: 8:48 a.m. ET
New claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly lower in latest week
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - The number of new jobless claims in the United States came in weaker than expected last week, suggesting growing improvement in the U.S. job market.
New claims for state unemployment benefits fell to 380,000 in the week ended Aug. 11 from a revised 388,000 the prior week, the Labor Department reported. Analysts surveyed by Briefing.com had forecast new claims of 395,000.
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The four-week moving average of new claims, considered a better gauge of jobless trends, fell to 370,750 from the previous period's revised 380,000, and were the lowest since March 10. Economists watch the four-week moving average more closely because it smoothes fluctuations in the weekly data.
Continued claims -- those by workers who already have claimed at least a week of benefits -- fell to 3.04 million in the week ended July 28, the latest data available, after a revised reading of 3.08 million the prior week. 
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Department of Labor
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