By Jeffry Bartash
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - The number of people applying for new unemployment benefits was little changed last week, falling by 5,000 to 343,000. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch expected claims to total 346,000 in the week ended June 29, on a seasonally adjusted basis. The average of new claims over the past month, a more reliable gauge than the volatile weekly number, edged down by 750 to 345,500, the U.S. Labor Department said Wednesday. That's the lowest level in six weeks. The jobless claims report was moved up one day from its normal publication date on Thursday because of the July 4 holiday. Also, the government said continuing claims decreased by 54,000 to a seasonally adjusted 2.93 million in the week ended June 22. Continuing claims reflect the number of people already receiving benefits. Initial claims from two weeks ago, meanwhile, were revised up to 348,000 from an original reading of 346,000, based on more complete data collected at the state level.
