MW: U.S. weekly jobless claims fall 20,000 to 478,000
By Robert Schroeder
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- First-time claims for state unemployment benefits dropped by 20,000 in the latest week, to 478,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. However, the four-week average of new claims rose by 8,250, to 482,500, and the number of Americans continuing to collect benefits also climbed by 56,000, to 3.56 million. The four-week average of new claims is at a seven-year high, while continuing claims are at a five-year high.
