Â
Sponsored by
NATIONAL NEWS
Weekly US unemployment aid claims drop to 344K
Posted: Feb 28, 2013 5:39 AM by ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid fell 22,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 344,000, evidence that the job market may be picking up.
The Labor Department says the four-week average of applications dropped 6,750 to 355,000, the first drop in three weeks.
Weekly applications are a proxy for layoffs. When they decline, it suggests companies are cutting fewer workers and may be more willing to hire.
The four-week average has steadily declined since November. Since then, it has fallen almost 11 percent. At the same time, employers have added an average of 200,000 jobs per month from November through January. That's up from about 150,000 in the previous three months.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
PLEASE HELP US MODERATE COMMENTS
Offensive or inappropriate comments are subject to removal. To report a comment, please e-mail us at feedback@ksby.com, and include the name of the story and information on the comment.
Thank you! KSBY.com
KSBY.COM VIDEOS
-
"Monster" reunited with owner after his cage was blown away during Oklahoma tornado
Views: 99 May 22, 2013 -
Joshua Hornsby mourns the loss of his young daughter killed in the Oklahoma tornado
Views: 29 May 22, 2013
Comments