The Labor Department reported that initial claims for state unemployment aid rose to 320,000, compared with 299,000 the previous week. Official cautioned that claims data are usually volatile around holiday periods like school spring break and summer vacations. The total number of unemployed still receiving benefits after an initial week of aid dropped by 76,000 to 2.56 million in the latest week for which figures are available.
See "Jobless Claims Rise to 320,000", The New York Times, April 27, 2005