First-time unemployment claims dropped in Florida after a brief post-holiday season increase. The U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday estimated 5,610 unemployment applications were filed last week in Florida, down from 7,103 during the week that ended Jan. 13.
Last week’s total was similar to the state’s 5,697 weekly average since the start of November. Meanwhile, the Department of Labor said claims nationally increased by 25,000 last week.
The Department of Labor report was released as the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis reported U.S. gross domestic product grew at an annualized pace of 3.3 percent during the fourth quarter of 2023, topping an expected 2 percent gain.
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The Florida Department of Commerce last week said the state had a 3 percent unemployment rate in December. That was up from 2.9 percent in November and 2.7 percent in December 2022.
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