The Labor Department said the number of initial claims for state benefits fell 7, 000 to 340, 000.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped by 19, 000 to a seasonally adjusted 366, 000.
Three-hundred and fifty thousand (350, 000) people a week file initial claims for unemployment benefits.
Initial claims data was steady at 398, 000 with fresh claims falling by just 4, 000 through last weekend.
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Initial claims for jobless benefits in the latest week dropped to 344, 000, while 365, 000 claims were expected.
Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell by 4, 000 to a seasonally adjusted 364, 000, according to the Labor Department.
There was better news on unemployment, with a fall in the number of initial claims for unemployment benefits.
Separately, initial claims for unemployment benefits rose to 362, 000 in the latest week, a higher figure than expected.
In the US, existing housing sales, housing starts, and initial claims and leading economic indicators beat market expectations.
Initial claims for jobless benefits rose to 357, 000 in the latest week while an increase to 340, 000 was expected.
Initial claims for jobless benefits in the latest week totaled 336, 000, up from the previous week's revised figure of 334, 000.
Initial claims fell by 16, 000 to 414, 000 while new housing starts rose by 3.5% from an upwardly revised base for April.
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The Labor Department reported initial claims for unemployment benefits totaled 351, 000 during the week ended Feb. 18, unchanged from last week's revised total.
Initial claims for unemployment benefits rose 26, 000 to 436, 000 last week, according to the Labor Department, up from the previous week's adjusted 410, 000 claims.
All told, initial claims for increased to a seasonally adjusted 380, 000 in the week ended April 26 from a revised 345, 000 the previous week.
The dollar index is weaker by 0.7% at its lowest in four weeks ahead of initial claims data and an April reading of factory orders.
In notable economic news this week, initial claims for state jobless benefits dropped 27, 000 to a seasonally adjusted 341, 000, according to the the Labor Department.
There were 646, 219 initial claims during the same week in 2012.
Some key data due to be released this week includes the MBA Mortgage Index on Wednesday, initial claims on Thursday, and new home sales on Friday.
Initial claims inched down by 1, 000 to 400, 000, according to a report by the Labor Department, helping push the 4-week moving average down 7, 750 to 407, 750.
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Continued economic weakness in the U.S. was illustrated by initial claims for unemployment insurance, down marginally from a week ago but still above the key 400, 000 thousand.
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Initial claims from two weeks ago stood unrevised at 330, 000.
Initial claims for unemployment benefits dropped to 366, 000 from 371, 000.
Some key data due to be released this week includes retail sales on Tuesday, industrial production on Wednesday, initial claims on Thursday, and the consumer price index on Friday.
On the data side, Irene is expected to cause sizable disruptions on initial claims and, particularly, on jobs, with hurricanes generally pushing back hiring, shipments, and affecting trade flows.
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Depressed labor markets continue their ride through limbo, as initial claims for unemployment insurance came in at 400, 000 for the week ending July 30, just below expectations of 405, 000.
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Giving a boost to the stock market Thursday was good news on the employment front, with initial claims for jobless benefits falling more than expected in the latest week, to 346, 000.
Unemployment claims in the U.S. once again provided a negative shock to investors as initial claims shot up to a total of 472K and was one more jab to the dollar.
The index is designed to forecast economic activity in the next three to six months based on 10 economic components, including stock prices, building permits and initial claims for unemployment benefits.
Specifically, initial claims and hiring activity will be delayed.
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