By Greg Robb
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - First-time claims for state unemployment benefits fell slightly in the latest week, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The number of initial claims in the week ending Oct. 22 fell 2,000 to 402,000. The consensus forecast of Wall Street economists was for claims to rise 2,000 to 405,000. The four-week average fell 1,750 to 405,500. Claims in the previous week were revised to an decrease of 7,000 to 404,000 compared with the initial estimate of a decrease of 6,000 to 403,000.
