http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=%7B11C094BE%2D39FA%2D40CE%2D9763%2D38A8EDD431B9%7D&siteid=mktwU.S. jobless claims stay high
Puerto Rico layoffs tied to budget crisis cited
By Greg Robb, MarketWatch
Last Update: 8:37 AM ET May 11, 2006
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- First-time claims for state unemployment benefits filed last week stayed just below the highest level seen this year, reflecting layoffs associated with a partial government shutdown in Puerto Rico, the Labor Department reported Thursday.
The number of initial claims in the week ended May 6 fell to 324,000, but this was down only 1,000.
Also, claims in the previous week were revised to an increase of 9,000 to 325,000, compared with the initial estimate of a rise of 5,000 to 322,000. This was the highest level since the week ended Oct. 15.
Last week's small decline was not as large as economists expected. The consensus forecast of Wall Street economists was for claims to fall by 6,000 to 316,000.
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Breaking:
U.S. RETAIL SALES FOR APRIL RISE LESS-THAN-EXPECTED 0.5%