In the week ended Sept. 22, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 298,000, a decrease of 15,000, or 4.8%, from the previous week's revised figure of 313,000. The four-week moving average was 311,500, a decrease of 9,750 from the previous week's revised average of 321,250.

In the week ended Sept. 15, the most recent state numbers, California posted the largest increase in initial claims, up 5,370; followed by Florida, up 3,510; South Carolina, up 2,180; and Georgia, up 1,608. California cited layoffs in the construction and service industries. Florida reported layoffs in construction, trade, service, manufacturing and agriculture. South Carolina and Georgia cited layoffs in manufacturing.

Michigan saw the biggest decrease in initial claims in the week of Sept.15, down 2,711. The state cited fewer layoffs in the auto industry.