New La. jobless claims fall

First-time claims for benefits from the newly unemployed dropped by more than 6% last week in Louisiana. The state Workforce Commission says there were 4,123 initial filings for the week ending Saturday. That’s down from 4,398 for the week ending July 16. For the comparable week ending July 24, 2010, the state recorded 4,395 first-time filings. The four-week moving average of initial claims increased slightly to 4,186 from 4,106 for the week ending July 16. Those still looking for work filed for an additional 48,949 weeks of benefits last week, up slightly from 48,364 for the week ending July 16. For the comparable week a year ago, the unemployed filed for an additional 59,365 weeks of benefits.