Applications for US jobless aid fall 20K to 331K

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-EXCITE

By JOSH BOAK

WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of people applying for U.S. unemployment benefits declined 20,000 last week to 331,000, suggesting that Americans are facing fewer layoffs and better job prospects.

The Labor Department said the four-week average, a less volatile measure, ticked up 250 to 334,000. That remains near pre-recession levels and serves as evidence that job losses have waned.

A total of 3.47 million Americans received benefits as of Jan. 18, down from 3.58 million the week before.

Ian Shepherdson, chief economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, described the decline in benefit claims as "something of a relief."

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140206/DABPPDO80.html

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In this Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, file photo, job seekers sign in before meeting prospective employers during a career fair at a hotel in Dallas. The Labor Department reports on the number of people who applied for unemployment benefits for the first week of February on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

[DontTreadOnMe]

1. "something of a relief."

really? Does this unemployment report charade fool anyone?

And the Press just moves along and "reports" the story... like it is true.

[Jesus Malverde]

2. How can they peddle such BS.

People are being reclassified from unemployed to no longer in the job market.

much of the decline was due to the departure of about 347,000 unemployed people who stopped looking for work.

They didn't stop looking for work. They have had their benefits cut off.

This is bloody, vicious class warfare and there are bodies all over the battlefield.

[840high]

3. Thank you - it is BS