MarketWatch (12/17/15) Jeffry Bartash
The number of people applying for unemployment benefits fell by 11,000 to a seasonally adjusted 271,000 in the week ended Dec. 12, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Economists polled by MarketWatch had forecast claims of 275,000. The average of initial claims over the past month declined by 250 to 270,500. Jobless claims were below 300,000 for the 41st straight week—the longest such run since the early 1970s. The 300,000 threshold is associated with strong labor market conditions.