Jobless Claims Fall Again, by 12,000 for the Week

This week's unemployment claims report certainly looks hopeful: The number of people applying for benefits fell 12,000 to 367,000 after last week's slight uptick to 379,000, the Department of Labor reports.

This week's unemployment claims report certainly looks hopeful: The number of people applying for benefits fell 12,000 to 367,000 after last week's slight uptick to 379,000, the Department of Labor reports.

The four-week moving average (seen as a more reliable number than the weekly figure) continued to fall, shedding 2,000 to reach 375,750 from last week's 377,750. These are good signs, as the magic number for economists is 375,000 applying for the benefits. If the weekly number consistently falls below that, experts say, it's a sign of a job market in strong recovery.