Claims for Unemployment Benefits Fall Again

Washington, DC, Feb. 9, 2012 -- Initial claims for unemployment benefits fell again last week, another sign that the labor market is continuing to improve.

The Labor Department said that jobless claims dropped by 15,000 to a seasonally adjusted 358,000 in the week ended Feb. 4. That’s near a four-year low.

The four-week average of claims, meanwhile, fell by 11,000, to 366,250 to mark the lowest level since April 2008.

Also Thursday, the Labor Department said continuing claims increased by 64,000 to a seasonally adjusted 3.52 million in the week ended Jan. 28. Continuing claims are reported with a one-week lag.