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WASHINGTON, D.C. — An additional 1.3 million Americans have filed for first-time unemployment assistance for the week ending July 4, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones expected just under 1.4 million claims. The most recent week continues a declining week-over-week trend, coming in at 99,000 fewer claims than the week ending June 27. The four-week rolling average was 19.1 million, down by 636,000 claims from the previous rolling average.
Additionally, the continuing claims are steadily declining, coming in at just over 18 million, a decrease of 698,000 claims from the previous week.