WASHINGTON — The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell for a second week last week, suggesting labor market conditions continue to steadily improve.þþInitial claims for state unemployment benefits slipped 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 339,000, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Claims for the prior week were revised to show 3,000 more applications received than previously reported.þþThe four-week moving average for new claims rose 8,500 to 357,250 as the holiday-related volatility lingers.þþA Labor Department analyst said no states had been estimated. While claims data continue to be plagued by seasonal volatility, there has been an acceleration in job growth.þþAgainst the backdrop of a firming jobs market and brightening economic outlook, the Federal Reserve in December announced it would reduce its monthly $85 billion bond buying program by $10 billion starting this month.þþThe claims report showed the number of people still receiving benefits under regular state programs after an initial week of aid fell 98,000 to 2.83 million in the week ended December 21.þþBenefits for more than a million long-term unemployed Americans expired on December 28, which could see a sharp decline in the total number of people receiving benefits under all programs from 4.46 million in the week ended Dec 14.
Source: NY Times
