JOBS REPORT

Hurricanes lead to spike in U.S. jobless claims Weekly initial claims highest in seven years By Robert Schroeder, MarketWatch Last update: 8:47 a.m. EDT Sept. 25, 2008WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- U.S. weekly jobless claims shot to their highest level in seven years in the latest week, the Labor Department said Thursday, as people in the hurricane-hit states of Louisiana and Texas filed for benefits. First-time filings for unemployment benefits jumped by 32,000, to 493,000 for the week ended Sept. 20, the Labor Department reported. The higher number reflects claims following the damage wreaked by Hurricane Gustav in Louisiana and Hurricane Ike in Texas