/ Source: The Associated Press
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits dropped below the 300,000 level last week, signaling continued strength in the labor market despite a recent slowdown in job creation.
The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claims totaled 298,000 last week, a drop of 7,000 from the previous week.
That was a bigger improvement in claims than analysts had been expecting and provided evidence of strength in a labor market that has experienced a significant slowing in job creation in recent months.