In the week ending Sept. 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 445,000, a decrease of 6,000, or 1.3%, from the previous week's revised figure of 451,000. The four-week moving average was 440,000, an increase of 250 from the previous week's revised average of 439,750.

The state with the biggest decrease in initial claims was Louisiana, down 2,228 followed by Alabama, down 1172. While there was no reason provided for the decrease in Louisiana, fewer layoffs in the rubber/plastics, transportation, and warehousing industries were attributed for the decrease in Alabama. Michigan posted the largest increase in initial unemployment claims, up 1,087. The state cited layoffs in the automobile industry.