Initial Jobless Claims Flat for Week of March 8

Washington, DC, March 13, 2008—Initial jobless claims for state unemployment benefits for the week ending March 8 totaled  353,000, the same as the revised number for the week ending March 1, according to the Labor Department .

The four-week average of first-time claims fell in the latest week, down by just 1,250 to 358,500. Continuing claims for benefits remained at a high not seen since September 2005. For the week ending March 1, continuing claims rose by 7,000 to 2.83 million.