Weekly U.S. applications unemployment benefits fell 23,000 last week to 369,000, after being distorted the previous two weeks by technical problems. The four-week average rose slightly to 368,000, a level consistent with only modest hiring.

Here are the states with the biggest increases and decreases in applications. The state data are for the week ended Oct. 13, one week behind the national data.

States with the biggest increases:

California: Up 26,935, due to layoffs in all sectors, particularly the service industry

Florida: Up 3,947, due to layoffs in agriculture, construction, manufacturing, retail and services

Ohio: Up 1,936, due to layoffs in transportation and manufacturing

Washington: Up 1,435, due to layoffs in manufacturing and agriculture

Alaska: Up 1,383, no reason given

States with the biggest decreases:

New York: Down 3,395, due to fewer layoffs in health care and social assistance, real estate and food service

New Jersey: Down 1,311, due to fewer layoffs in construction, administrative, healthcare and retail

Georgia: Down 1,285, due to fewer layoffs in manufacturing and health care

Massachusetts: Down 1,141, no reason given