Jobs: WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) – Applications fo

Jobs: WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) – Applications for U.S. jobless benefits fell by 3,000 to a seasonally adjusted 382,000 in the week ended Sept. 15, the Labor Department said Thursday. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch expected claims to drop to 375,000. Initial claims from two weeks ago, partly inflated by hurricane Isaac, were revised up to 385,000 from an original reading of 382,000, based on more complete data collected at the state level. The average of new claims over the past month, meanwhile, rose by 2,000 to 377,750, the highest level since late June. The four-week average reduces seasonal volatility in the weekly data and is seen as a more accurate barometer of labor-market trends. Also, Labor said continuing claims decreased by 32,000 to a seasonally adjusted 3.27 million in the week ended Sept. 8. Continuing claims reflect the number of people already receiving benefits. About 5.17 million people received some kind of state or federal benefit in the week ended Sept. 1, down 217,823 from the prior week. Total claims are reported with a two-week lag.