Weekly US Jobless Claims Fall To 355K Last Week
The number of people seeking unemployment benefits last week fell by 8,000 to a seasonally adjusted 355,000, a possible sign of a healing job market. But officials cautioned that the figures were distorted by Superstorm Sandy.
The storm also pushed up applications in other states because those temporarily out of work sought benefits.
The Labor Department says that the four-week average of applications, a less volatile measure, rose 3,250 to 370,500.
If sustained, the decline in applications would be a good sign. Still, the storm could affect the figures for up to three to four weeks, the spokesman said.
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