Initial claims have jumped by 79,000 in two week stretch WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- First-time unemployment benefits claims rose by 10,000 to 379,000 in the week ending Saturday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Thursday. The department also revised the previous week's jump in claims from 368,000 to 369,000, which puts the two week total at 79,000 fresh claims for benefits. The four-week rolling average of first-time unemployment benefits claims rose by 13,250 to 343,500. The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending December 7 were in California with a gain of 12,876, New York with 14,322 additional claims and Pennsylvania with 14,004. The largest decreases were in Ohio, Kentucky and Vermont with declines of 1,095, 838 and 400, respectively.