The more stable, four-week moving average of new claims, which smoothes out weekly fluctuations, declined by 11,500 last week to 393,500, also the lowest level since Feb. 8.
Weekly jobless claims at lowest since February
WASHINGTON -- New claims for unemployment insurance fell last week to their lowest level in eight months, the Labor Department has reported. For the work week ending Oct. 4 new applications for jobless benefits dropped by a seasonally adjusted 23,000 to 382,000, the best showing since Feb. 8.