Applications for benefits dropped 16,000, the Labor Department said Thursday.
The number of people continuing to receive unemployment benefits dropped 55,000, to 3.48 million.
Initial claims for state jobless benefits dropped 8,000 to a seasonally adjusted 355,000, the Labor Department said.
First-time claims for unemployment benefits dropped to 473,000 last week, a bigger drop than analysts had expected.
New claims for unemployment benefits dropped by 31,000 to a seasonally adjusted 473,000, the Labor Department said Thursday.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped by 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 366,000, the Labor Department said.
In fact, the number of Irish signing up for unemployment benefits dropped about 3 percent last month.
The number of laid-off workers seeking benefits dropped 44,000, to a seasonally adjusted 434,000.
In a second economic report, first-time claims for unemployment benefits dropped last week for the third consecutive week.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- New claims for unemployment benefits dropped sharply last week, a sign that layoffs could be slowing.
Thursday's report also showed the number of people receiving unemployment benefits dropped by 20,000 to 3.77 million.
