Fewer Americans file unemployment claims

1/6/2011

Fewer Americans filed claims for unemployment insurance payments over the past month, indicating the labor market is improving.

The average number of applications for jobless benefits over the past four weeks dropped to 410,750, the lowest level since July, 2008, U.S. Labor Department figures showed Thursday. Claims for the week ended Jan. 1 rose by 18,000 to 409,000.