Jobless benefit claims decline
From Times Wire Services
The number of laid-off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits improved unexpectedly last week, though a key indicator of unemployment hit a four-year high.
The Labor Department said applications for unemployment benefits totaled 357,000 last week, some 18,000 fewer than the previous week. That pushed applications for benefits to their lowest level since mid-April.
The four-week average for people receiving benefits, however, edged up to 3.086 million, the highest level since March 6, 2004.
