Jobless Claims Decline For Second Consecutive Week

By Lucia Mutikani

WASHINGTON -- The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell for a second straight week last week, pointing to a steady pace of job gains.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits slipped 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 343,000, the Labor Department said Wednesday. Claims for the prior week were revised to show 2,000 more applications received than previously reported.