Bloomberg (07/18/13) Jeanna Smialek
The number of people who applied for unemployment benefits last week fell as the effects of auto-plant shutdowns began to diminish. Jobless claims dropped by 24,000 to 334,000 in the week ended July 13, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had forecast 345,000 jobless claims. The less-volatile four-week moving average of new jobless claims declined to 346,000 last week from 351,250.