Jobless Claims Down to Lowest Level in Eight Years

iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — Jobless claims fell last week, decreasing by 19,000, according to the latest figures released Thursday by the Labor Department.

For the week ending July 19, the number of people filing for benefits dropped to 284,000 — the lowest level for initial claims since February 18, 2006. The previous week, claims stood at a revised level of 303,000.

The Labor Department said there were no “special factors” impacting this week’s figures.

The four-week moving average fell to its lowest level in nearly seven years, decreasing by 17,000 to 2,542,250.


Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio

lab-diamonds-3-gty-dp-041024_1712780174579_hpmain173463

Are lab-grown diamonds as sustainable as advertised?

This photograph taken Feb. 6, 2024 shows a laboratory technician monitoring the progress of lab-grown diamond seeds at Greenlab Diamonds manufacturing firm on the outskirts of Surat. (Sam Panthaky/AFP via Getty Images) (NEW YORK) — The natural