--US new jobless claims +16,000 at 375,000 in latest week
--US new jobless claims level at highest rate since July 1998
--US new jobless claims 4-week average +5,250 at 352,250
--US jobless claiming benefits +175,000 to 2.520 million
--US jobless benefits 4-week average +43,750 to 2,355,500
By BridgeNews
Washington--Jan. 4--New claims for U.S. state unemployment insurance benefits jumped 16,000 to 375,000 during the week ended Saturday Dec. 30, the U.S. Labor Department said, above the 343,000 median estimate of analysts surveyed by BridgeNews. Jobless claims have risen for three straight weeks and are now at their highest level since the first week of July 1998. The 4-week moving average rose 5,250 to 352,250, also the highest level since July 1998. * * * The estimates of analysts surveyed by BridgeNews put initial jobless claims for the latest week in a range of 340,000 to 350,000. For the week ended Dec. 23, initial claims rose a revised 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 359,000, originally reported as 333,000, Labor said. For the same week, the 4-week moving average for new claims was 347,000, originally reported at 340,750 per week. In new data for the week ended Dec. 23, 2.520 million people were reported claiming unemployment benefits under regular state programs, up 175,000 from the previous week's revised 2.345 million, Labor said. The 4-week moving average for the week of Dec. 23 for continuing claims rose 43,750 to 2,355,500.