February 18, 2005 10:07 AM

Unemployment claims lowest in four years
Posted by Douglas Eisenhartat 10:07 AM

Yesterday the Labor Department reported the lowest number of newly filed unemployment claims since 2000:

The number of laid-off workers filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell for a third straight week, dropping to the lowest level in more than four years, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

A total of 302,000 Americans filed applications for jobless benefits last week, down 2,000 from the previous week on a seasonally adjusted basis. The level was the lowest since Oct. 28, 2000, in the closing months of the country's record 10-year economic expansion.