MW: Weekly U.S. jobless claims fall 11,000 to 445,000
By Jeffry Bartash
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - The number of people who filed new claims for state unemployment benefits fell 11,000 to 445,000 in the latest week, the lowest level since early July, the U.S. Labor Department reported Thursday. Economists polled by MarketWatch had expected initial claims to rise to a seasonally adjusted 455,000 in the week ended Oct. 2. The four-week average of new claims, which is less volatile than the weekly number, decreased by 3,000 to 455,750. Continuing jobless claims, which refers to workers who were already receiving regular weekly benefits, declined 48,000 to 4.46 million, Labor reported.
