Jobless-Benefit Rolls Drop to Four-Year Low

The number of people receiving unemployment benefits reached a four-year low last week, fresh evidence of a strengthening economy.

The number of laid-off workers receiving jobless benefits averaged 2.58 million over the four weeks ended last week, the lowest four-week average since March 2001, the Labor Department reported.

The number of newly laid-off workers applying for benefits fell by a better-than-expected 4,000 from the previous week to 315,000, the lowest level for new claims since the first week in August.