By Jeffry Bartash
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - The number of people who applied for U.S. unemployment benefits fell by 9,000 to 315,000 in the week ended March 8, marking the lowest level since the end of November, the Labor Department said Thursday. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch expected claims to total 330,000 on a seasonally adjusted basis. The average of new claims over the past month, a more reliable gauge than the volatile weekly number, declined by 6,250 to 330,500. That's the lowest level since early December. Also, the government said continuing claims decreased by 48,000 to a seasonally adjusted 2.86 million in the week ended March 1. Continuing claims reflect the number of people already receiving benefits. Initial claims from two weeks ago, meanwhile, were revised up to 324,000 from 323,000.
