Jobless Claims Jump in Aftermath of Attacks

The number of initial jobless claims rose by 58,000 to 450,000 for the week ended September 22 in the week following the terrorist attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.  That was well ahead of expectations, but did not yet reflect the swelling number of airline industry layoffs.

The Labor Department said preliminary data showed an 11,000 rise in claims from New York, the state hit hardest after two hijacked planes slammed into the World Trade Center.  Grounded flights contributed to an uptick in jobless claims among Michigan autoworkers, stymied by the inability to work with parts needed from Canada.