The U.S. Labor Department reports on the number of people who applied for unemployment benefits last week. The report will be released Thursday at 8:30 a.m. Eastern. MODEST FALL: Economists forecast that weekly applications dropped 7,000 to a seasonally adjusted 300,000, according to a survey by the data firm FactSet. That would be the second straight drop after applications spiked in early January, reaching a seven-month high of 317,000 two weeks ago. Much of that increase, however, reflected holiday volatility, as retailers, restaurants and other firms laid off temporary employees hired over the winter holidays. ... (full story)