How States Fared On Unemployment Aid Applications

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A steady decline in the number of Americans applying for weekly unemployment benefits is the latest signal that the U.S. economy has strengthened and businesses may be poised to step up hiring.

Applications fell last week fell to a seasonally adjusted 381,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. That's the lowest level since late February. The four-week average, a less volatile measure, dropped for the ninth time in 11 weeks.