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U.S. weekly jobless claims remained at their highest level in seven years,
the Labor Department reported Thursday, as people in the hurricane-hit
states of Louisiana and Texas filed for benefits.

For the week ended Sept. 27, seasonally adjusted first-time claims for
unemployment benefits rose 1,000, to 497,000, which is the highest level
since late September 2001.

Without the hurricane-related effects, initial claims would have been about
439,000. The four-week average of claims rose 11,500 to 474,000, the highest
since October 2001.