The Economy

U.S. Jobless Claims Hit Lowest Level in Nearly Four Years

Feb. 16, 2012

The decline in claims was much better than the 365,000 new filings analysts had expected.

New claims for U.S. unemployment benefits fell last week to their lowest level since March 2008, official data showed Thursday in a fresh sign of improvement in the troubled job market.

Initial jobless claims fell to 348,000 in the week ending Feb. 11, down 3.6% from the prior week, the Labor Department reported.

The decline in claims was much better than the 365,000 new filings analysts had expected.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2012

About the Author

Agence France-Presse

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2002-2024. AFP text, photos, graphics and logos shall not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP shall not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP content, or for any actions taken in consequence.