Washington, Oct. 23--The number of workers filing first-time applications for unemployment benefits fell last week to its lowest level in one month.
Initial jobless claims decreased by 4,000 to 386,000 in the week that ended Saturday, the Labor Department said Thursday. The four-week moving average, which smooths out weekly fluctuations, remained unchanged at 392,250.
Economists had expected claims to rise by 6,000, according to a survey by Dow Jones and CNBC, but the claims figure for the previous week was revised upward to 390,000 from 384,000.
For three straight weeks, initial claims have stayed under 400,000, which economists usually interpret as a sign of a stabilizing labor market.
