
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, August 10, 1993                   TAG: 9308100009
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

ROANOKE VALLEY ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Unemployment statistics, which have been on a steady decline through most of the year, rose in June, according to figures released last week by the Virginia Employment Commission.

Not only did the unemployment rate rise in nearly every city and county in the New River and Roanoke valleys, but the number of new claims for jobless benefits also rose sharply from May.

The VEC reported 179 Roanoke-area residents filed initial claims for jobless benefits in June, up 34 percent from 134 in May but down 40 percent from the year-earlier 299.

The number of ongoing claims in the area totaled 2,003 in June, up 1 percent from 1,984 in May and 1,978 in June 1992.

Since January, both measures are down, from 298 initial claims and 2,411 active claims.

The number of Roanoke-area people working was up a slight 0.2 percent to 128,100 in June over May's 127,900. The June total was up 1.1 percent from 126,600 in June 1992.

by CNB