Rolling average of first-time unemployment benefit falls to 328,500 5 (UPI) -- First-time unemployment claims dropped by 9,000 to 323,000 in the week ending Aug. 31, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Thursday. The current four-week moving average fell by 3,000 to 328,500, BLS reported. The prior week's first-time claims were revised higher from 331,000 to 332,000. The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Aug. 17 were in New York with a gain of 3,568, Georgia, which added 903, and Connecticut with an additional 604 claims. The largest decreases were in California, Missouri and Kansas with declines of 2,544, 1,713 and 915, respectively.