Fewer People Apply for Unemployment Benefits

WASHINGTON - Fewer people applied for unemployment benefits last week, providing support for the view that there will be stronger job growth this year.

Applications fell to a seasonally adjusted 385,000 last week, marking the third decline in the past four weeks, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

The four-week average for claims dropped to 386,250. That was the lowest level since July 2008, providing evidence that the job market is on a more solid footing.