Initial unemployment claims down again in April

For the 17th straight month, initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased in April compared to the same month of the previous year.

The Division of Employment Security reported a total of 14,931 first-time claims for benefits, a 15 percent decrease from April 2013.

Chief Economist Bill Anderson said initial claims have now decreased in 50 of the last 53 months. But he cautioned that since the trend coincides with implementation of the new unemployment insurance computer system, there could be some problems with the year-over-year comparisons.

Initial claims peaked during the recession at 36,414 in December 2008. Since then, the low point was 11,985 in September of last year.