Jobless Applications Continue Downward Trend

Washington, DC, April 5, 2012 -- Applications for unemployment benefits continued to trend lower last week and remained at a four-year low, the Labor Department said.

The government said 357,000 people filed new claims in the week ended March 31, down from an upwardly revised 363,000 in the prior week. Claims from two weeks ago were initially reported at 359,000.

The Labor Department also said continuing claims declined by 16,000 to a seasonally adjusted 3.34 million in the week ended March 24.