The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits fell 10,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 311,000, the lowest since late November and a hopeful sign hiring could pick up.
Here are the states with the biggest increases and decreases in applications. The data is for the week that ended March 15, one week behind the national figures:
States with the biggest decreases:
- Pennsylvania: Down 3,166, due to fewer layoffs in construction and administrative and support services
- Illinois: Down 2,320, due to fewer layoffs in the construction, administrative and support services and trade industries
- New York: Down 2,155, due to fewer layoffs in transportation and warehousing
- Texas: Down 1,373, no reason given
- Wisconsin: Down 1,055, no reason given
- Washington: Down 1,026, no reason given
- States with the biggest increases:
- California: Up 3,189, due to layoffs in services and retail
Copyright AP - Associated Press
