Fewer People Sought Unemployment Aid Last Week

AP
Updated
unemployment applications down
unemployment applications down

By Christopher S. Rugaber


WASHINGTON -- The number of people seeking unemployment benefits fell further in the final week of 2011, a positive sign for hiring one day ahead of Friday's December employment report.

The Labor Department says weekly applications dropped 15,000 to a seasonally adjusted 372,000 last week. It was the fourth drop in five weeks. The four-week average, which smooths fluctuations, declined to 373,250, the lowest level since June 2008.

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