Pursuits
Jobless Claims Unexpectedly Fall as Labor Market Improves
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A strengthening job market is helping lift Americans’ spirits, raising the odds the economy will pick up this year as consumers sustain a surprise spending streak.
The number of people filing claims for jobless benefits averaged 346,750 over the past four weeks, the lowest level since March 2008, according to data today from the Labor Department in Washington. The Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index advanced to minus 31.6 in the week ended March 10, the highest since April, another report showed.