Initial Unemployment Claims Fall

The state labor department says first-time claims for unemployment insurance in Louisiana for the week ending Dec. 27 decreased to 1,566 from the previous week's total of 2,531.

For the comparable week a year earlier, there were 1,721 initial claims, officials said Monday.

The shorter work-week due to the Christmas holidays contributed to the over-the-week decrease in initial claims. Industries with the largest decreases were construction, accommodation and food services and administrative and waste services.

The four-week moving average, a less volatile measure, decreased to 2,350, from the previous week's average of 2,383.

Continued unemployment claims for the week ending Dec. 27 decreased to 20,328 compared to 20,837 the previous week.

The four-week moving average for such claims increased to 20,520 from the previous week's average of 20,327.