21.   In addition, initial claims for unemployment insurance reached their highest level last week in five years, the Department of Labor said Thursday.

22.   Initial claims that the hormone might lower breast cancer risk have not been borne out by three studies.

23.   Initial claims for unemployment benefits are dropping, although they remain high.

24.   Initial claims for unemployment benefits rose last week, the government said, suggesting that the labor market may be softening a bit.

25.   Initial claims for unemployment insurance inched up again.

26.   Initial jobless claims probably declined last week as workers idled by the strike at General Motors Corp. returned to work, analysts said.

27.   Investors will be eyeing reports on initial jobless claims and consumer prices tomorrow.

28.   It also reports on initial claims for unemployment insurance for the week.

29.   Labor Department officials said the shutdown will also probably delay release of weekly initial jobless claims data planned for Thursday.

30.   Labor Department officials said the shutdown will also likely delay the planned Thursday release of weekly initial jobless claims data.