Firing Decline Helps Boost Confidence in U.S.: Economy

Applications for unemployment benefits declined last week and Americans’ views of the economy were the brightest since early 2008 on the heels of a housing market recovery and higher stock prices.

Jobless claims fell 11,000 in the week ended June 1 to 346,000, the Labor Department said today in Washington. Sentiment about the state of the economy improved to the best level since January 2008, helping keep the Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index at minus 29.7, close to a five-year high.