Initial Jobless Claims Lower Than Expected

Washington, DC, Sept. 9, 2010--Initial jobless claims fell 27,000 to 451,000 in the week ended Sept. 4, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

Economists had expected a level of 470,000.

The four-week average of initial claims fell 9,250 to 477,750. The number of workers who continued to receive state unemployment checks fell by 2,000 to 4.48 million in the week ended Aug. 28.

The four-week average of these continuing claims fell 3,250 to 4.49 million, the lowest level since December of 2008.