U.S. jobless claims drop 7,000 t o 340,000

Marketwatch ^ | 03/07/2013 | Jeffrey Bartash

[SeekAndFind]

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - The number of people who applied for new U.S. unemployment benefits fell by 7,000 to 340,000 in the week ended March 3, suggesting further improvement in the U.S. labor market.

It was the third lowest number of initial claims in five years, according to Labor Department data. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had expected claims to rise to a seasonally adjusted 353,000 from a revised 347,000 in the prior week.

[Gene Eric]

2%... wow!!! /s

[SgtHooper]

Ya, until they re-adjust it upwards in a couple weeks. This has happened far too often for me to believe this initial number.

[Slump Tester]

Wow! The Obama economy MUST be getting better better!

Or did 7000 people's unemployment benefits just expire?

[nascarnation]

There’s really no formal statistics connection between UE bennies and the jobs report.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

Wait until we get to zero jobless claims then everyone will have disappeared into the woodwork according to the White House three ring circus...

[MaxMax]

So instead of 347,000 unemployed, there were only 340,000 unemployed.

Well, by golly, Pop the cork Mertle, it's celebration time.

[mykroar]

You mean like the last revision: Initial claims from two weeks ago, meanwhile, were revised up by 3,000 from an original reading of 344,000,

Isn't that like 70 out of 71 weeks now? Anyone have the current streak number?

[lacrew]

“So instead of 347,000 unemployed, there were only 340,000 unemployed.”

....until the revision :)