Weekly Jobless Claims Fall, Ongoing Claims Lowest Since 2007

By Lucia Mutikani

WASHINGTON -- The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, suggesting that a sharp slowdown in job growth last month was probably an aberration.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 36,000 to a seasonally adjusted 280,000 for the week ended Sept. 13, the Labor Department said Thursday. It was the lowest level since July.