Unemployment Applications Edge Lower Last Week

Washington, DC, Aug. 28, 2014 -- Initial applications for unemployment benefits  fell below 300,000 for the fourth time in six weeks, according to the Labor Department.

Initial claims ticked down by 1,000 to 298,000 in week ended Aug. 23 and remain near an eight-year low, the Labor Department reported.

The average of new claims over the past month fell by 1,250 to 299,750.