Initial Unemployment Claims Fall Sharply

Washington, DC, Jan. 29, 2015 -- Initial claims for unemployment benefits fell to a 15-year low last week, according to the Labor Department.

Initial jobless claims plunged last week from 307,000 to 265,000, the lowest level for initial jobless claims since April 15, 2000.

This is also the largest week-over-week decline since April 2009.

The four-week moving average of initial claims moved back below 300,000 to 298,500.