Jobless Claims in U.S. Declined 9,000 Last Week to 346,000

[Purveyor]

By Lorraine Woellert - Jun 27, 2013
Fewer Americans filed claims for unemployment benefits last week, indicating employers are slowing the pace of firings as the economic outlook improves.

Jobless claims decreased by 9,000 to 346,000 in the week ended June 22 from a revised 355,000 the prior period, the Labor Department reported today in Washington. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for 345,000 claims.

Smaller reductions in headcounts indicate employers are confident enough that demand will be sustained as the housing market improves and consumers grow more optimistic. Bigger gains in sales may encourage companies to step up hiring and help reduce an unemployment rate the Federal Reserve says “remains elevated.”

“The broad trend still remains lower” for jobless claims, said Jacob Oubina, senior economist at RBC Capital Markets LLC in New York. “That’s going to continue to support net payroll gains.”

MORE...

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-27/jobless-claims-in-u-s-decreased-9-000-last-week-to-346-000.html

[leftstreet]

1. You get fewer 'jobless claims' when you have fewer jobs n/t