New La. unemployment claims decline

First-time claims for unemployment insurance in Louisiana for the week ending Saturday declined from the previous week’s total. The Louisiana Workforce Commission figures show the initial claims fell to 4,445 from 5,344 for the week ending June 4. The figure was lower than it was for the comparable week a year earlier, when there were 4,902 initial claims. The four-week moving average, which is a less volatile measure of claims, increased to 4,789 from the previous week’s total of 4,659. Continued unemployment claims filed for the week ending Saturday totaled 46,927, up from 43,936 for the week ending June 4. The four-week moving average for such claims increased to 44,399 from 43,445.