Jobless claims surge to near-record pace

Orange County Register
July 13th, 2009, 3:00 am
Posted by Mary Ann Milbourn

A hoped-for summer drop in California unemployment has failed to materialize this year, with jobless claims in recent weeks nearing their January highs, reports the state Employment Development Department.

Claims had been trending slightly downward to 336,317 in April after skyrocketing to 525,000 in January.

“The typical pattern is the unemployment insurance activity declines in the summer,â€