First-time unemployment claims decline

First-time claims for unemployment insurance in Louisiana for the week ending Saturday declined from the total for the week of June 18. The Louisiana Workforce Commission figures released today show the initial claims fell to 3,804 from 4,166 for the week ending June 18. The figure was lower than it was for the comparable week a year earlier, when there were 4.456 initial claims. The four-week moving average, which is a less volatile measure of claims, decreased to 4,440 from the previous week’s total of 4,723. Continued unemployment claims claimed for the week ending Saturday totaled 47,769, up from 47,151 for the week ending June 18. The four-week moving average for such claims increased to 46,446 from 45,377.