Bloomberg (09/06/12) Lorraine Woellert
First-time claims for state unemployment benefits declined by the largest amount in more than a month in the latest week, the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The number of initial claims in the week ending Sept. 1 fell 12,000 to 365,000. The median estimate of 48 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for a drop to 370,000. Employers are limiting firings as demand warrants holding on to current workers, helping support consumer spending, the biggest part of the economy.