Fewer Seek Unemployment Aid, Hopeful Sign For Jobs
By Christopher S. Rugaber
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Fewer people applied for unemployment benefits last week, a hopeful sign that the job market might be picking up.
The Labor Department said Thursday that weekly applications dropped 9,000 to a seasonally adjusted 397,000, the lowest level in five weeks. It's only the third time since April that applications have fallen below 400,000.
