jobless claims

Jobless claims plunged last week to a nearly four-year low, in the latest bit of good news for the U.S. economy.

The number of Americans filing for first-time unemployment benefits dropped to their lowest level since April 2008, boosting optimism in the job market.

The number of Americans filing first-time claims for unemployment benefits declined last week, but there were fewer people claiming benefits on a continuing basis, according to a government report.

The number of Americans filing first-time claims for unemployment benefits edged up last week, the government said Thursday.

The number of Americans filing for their first week of unemployment benefits tumbled last week toward the key 400,000 mark, the government reported Thursday.

More than 450,000 Americans filed for first-time unemployment insurance last week, a dismal sign ahead of the government's highly anticipated monthly jobs report due Friday.

The number of Americans filing for first-time unemployment benefits dropped more than expected last week, according to a government report released Thursday.

Initial filings for unemployment insurance fell to the lowest level in nearly three months last week, an encouraging sign ahead of the government's highly anticipated monthly jobs report due Friday.

The number of jobless Americans filing for unemployment insurance fell last week, a government report released Thursday showed.

The number of first-time filers for unemployment insurance fell more than expected last week, according to a weekly government report released Thursday.