HARRISBURG — The latest data show unemployment compensation filings in Pennsylvania are slowing down after reaching a peak in early January.

The state Department of Labor and Industry says fewer than 37,700 people filed initial claims for unemployment compensation in the week ending Feb. 28.

That's down from nearly 59,600 in the week ending Jan. 10. That week was Pennsylvania's highest on record since the government began an official weekly count in 1987.

Still, unemployment filings last month were up 51 percent over February 2008. That's a few percentage points above the January 2008 to January 2009 increase.

In addition, the percentage of the covered work force that's receiving benefits reached a record high during the week of Feb. 21.

It was at 6.7 percent.