U.S. Weekly Jobless Claims Climb 14,000 To 350,000

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US jobless claims rose in the past week, with Hurricane Ivan a major factor, the Labor Department reported.
The number of claims rose 14,000 to 350,000 in the week to September 18.
A Labor Department spokesman said the increase in first-time claims in the week was "mostly" due to the effects of Hurricane Ivan.
The more-reliable four-week moving average of first-time claims edged higher, to 341,000 from 339,000, in the latest week.