Initial jobless claims remain high

(April 19, 2012) -- Initial U.S. unemployment insurance claims slipped just 2,000 to a higher-than-expected 386,000 reading in the week ending April 14. The four-week moving average of initial claims, which better controls for weekly volatility, climbed to 374,750 from 369,250 the previous week. Continuing claims rose 26,000 to 3,297,000 after falling 78,000 to 3,271,000 the previous week.