Unemployment Applications Move Lower Again

Washington, DC, Jan. 5, 2012 -- New applications for unemployment benefits fell for the fourth time in five weeks, according to the Labor Department.

New requests for unemployment benefits fell by 15,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 372,000. Claims from two weeks ago were revised up to 387,000 from 381,000, based on more complete state data.

Economists had projected claims would fall to 373,000 in the week ended Dec. 31.

The average of new claims over the past four weeks, meanwhile, dropped by 3,250 to 373,250, marking the lowest level since June 2008.