In the week ending September 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims for unemployment insurance increased to 315,000 from an upwardly revised 304,000 the week prior. The four-week moving average, a less volatile gauge of underlying labor market conditions, increased slightly to 304,000 from the previous week's upward revised average of just over 303,000. Although the average increased, it's still at prerecession levels and consistent with gradually improving labor market conditions. Additionally, the period included the Labor Day holiday, and weekly claims can be volatile around holidays.
