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Jobless Claims in U.S. Held Last Week Near Four-Month Low
The number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits held last week near the lowest level in almost four months, a sign the labor market continues to strengthen. Jobless claims increased by 5,000 to 320,000 in the week ended March 15, a Labor Department report showed today in Washington. The median forecast of 51 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for an increase to 322,000. The four-week average, a less volatile measure, fell to the lowest level since late November. A slowdown in dismissals may pave the way for employers to take on more workers once demand accelerates. Federal Reserve ... (full story)