unemployment benefits

Weekly Jobless Claims Rise More Than Expected, Blizzard Cited

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits rose more than expected last week, but still remained at levels consistent with a steady improvement in labor market conditions. Initial jobless claims increased 20,000 to a seasonally adjusted 362,000, the Labor Department said.

Fiscal Cliff Averted: Details of the Deal

An agreement was reached late Monday between the White House and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell aimed at averting the fiscal cliff. Early Tuesday morning, the Senate passed the bill, and late Tuesday night, so did the House. Let's break down the key points of the deal.

Details of 'Fiscal Cliff' Deal Said to Emerge

Working against a midnight deadline, negotiators for the White House and congressional Republicans in Congress narrowed their differences Monday on legislation to avert across-the-board tax increases.

U.S. Jobless Aid Applications Fall to 5-Year Low

The average number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits over the past month fell to the lowest level since March 2008, a sign that the job market is healing. The Labor Department said Thursday that weekly applications dropped 12,000 to a seasonally adjusted 350,000 in the week ended Dec. 22. The four-week average, a less volatile measure, fell to a nearly five-year low of 356,750.

Initial Jobless Claims Plunge as Sandy Continues to Distort Data

The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits fell sharply by 41,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 410,000, though the figure was elevated for the second straight week by Superstorm Sandy. But employment should rebound after the impact of the storm passes.

Weekly Jobless Claims Fell to 355,000

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 8,000 to a seasonally adjusted 355,000, the Labor Department said on Thursday. The report is a sign the labor market's slow recovery is gaining traction, although Hurricane Sandy's impact on the Northeast may have distorted the data.

U.S. Weekly Jobless Claims Dropped Again

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell last week, a sign the labor market's slow recovery was gaining traction. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 9,000 to a seasonally adjusted 363,000, below the median forecast in a Reuters poll of 370,000.

Weekly Jobless Claims Rise, Technical Issues Cited

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits rose 46,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 388,000, reversing a sharp decline in the prior week but still pointing to a labor market that is slowly healing.

Initial Jobless Aid Applications Jump to 382,000

The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits jumped to the highest level in two months, although the figures were skewed in part by Hurricane Isaac. Applications increased by 15,000 to a seasonally adjusted 382,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. That's up from 367,000 the previous week.

Jobless Claims Drop To Lowest In A Month

The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits fell last week to its lowest level in a month, an upbeat signal for a labor market that has struggled to create enough jobs.

New Unemployment Aid Applications Hold Steady

The number of people seeking unemployment benefits was unchanged last week at 370,000, a number low enough to suggest steady gains in the job market. Applications for benefits are near the lowest levels in four years.

Unemployment Report Signals a Mild Slowdown in Hiring

The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits suggests hiring is slowing. The Labor Department said Thursday that applications for initial jobless benefits dipped last week by 2,000, but that was only after it revised the previous week's number upward by 8,000.

Unemployment Applications Drop to a 4-Year Low

The number of people seeking unemployment benefits fell to the lowest point in almost four years last week, the latest signal that the job market is steadily improving. Weekly applications for unemployment benefits dropped 13,000 to a seasonally adjusted 348,000, the Labor Department said Thursday.

Fewer Seek Unemployment Aid as Job Market Improves

The number of people seeking unemployment benefits fell last week to a level that signaled a steadily improving job market. The figures came one day before the government is expected to report that January marked another solid month for hiring.

Job Market Brightens as Unemployment Claims Sink

Far fewer people are seeking unemployment benefits than just three months ago %u2014 a sign that layoffs are falling sharply. The number of people applying for benefits fell last week to 366,000, the fewest since May 2008. If the number stayed that low consistently, it would likely signal that hiring is strong enough to lower unemployment.

New Jobless Claims Drop to 9-Month Low

The number of people applying for unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest level in nine months, the latest evidence that the job market is improving. The Labor Department said Thursday that weekly applications dropped by 23,000 to a seasonally adjusted 381,000. That's the lowest number of applications since late February.