On day before Fri. market holiday: Jobless claims fall to 26-year low (from USATODAY.com):
WASHINGTON - The number of U.S. workers filing first-time claims for state unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest level in more than 26 years, government figures show. Initial jobless claims dropped 9,000 to a seasonally adjusted 257,000 in the week ended April 15, the Labor Department says. That's the lowest since the week ended Dec. 1, 1973, when 256,000 claims were filed.
Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News expected jobless claims at 265,000 last week. Claims the previous week rose a revised 4,000 to 266,000, initially reported as up by 3,000 to 264,000. The four-week average of claims - a less-volatile indicator - fell to 262,500 last week from 264,000 the previous week. For the year to date, initial claims have averaged 274,067 a week, down from last year's average of 298,000.
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Of note:
Census Bureau added 117,000 workers in March, in part helping to boost overall job growth to its largest gain in more than 4 years. |
