U.S. Jobless Claims Decline

Despite manufacturing layoffs in Minnesota, Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri, initial claims for unemployment insurance across the U.S. fell by 20,000 last week to 308,000, the U.S. Labor Department reported on Nov. 9.

The department's four-week moving average for initial claims also declined, falling by 250 claims to an average of 311, 250 for the week ending Nov. 4.