Bloomberg (11/21/13) Michelle Jamrisko
Applications for jobless benefits dropped to the lowest level in almost two months, suggesting the labor market is healing. Jobless claims in the week ended Nov. 16 declined by 21,000 to 323,000, from a revised 344,000 the previous week, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had forecasted a decline to 335,000. The less-volatile four-week average of jobless claims fell to 338,500 last week from 345,250 the prior week.