US jobless claims fall to lowest level in 4 years

[WI_DEM]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits dropped last week to the lowest level in four years, adding to evidence that the job market is strengthening.

Applications for weekly unemployment benefits fell by 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 359,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. That's the fewest applicants since April 2008. The four-week average, a less volatile measure, declined to 365,000 — the fewest for that measure since May 2008.

When unemployment benefit applications drop consistently below 375,000, it usually signals that hiring is strong enough to lower the unemployment rate. The decline has coincided with the best three months of hiring in two years.

http://enews.earthlink.net/article/top?guid=20120329/547ce970-ca5c-48fb-ae7c-84e15b9c24ac

[MidwestTransplant]

1. Republicans on suicide watch. When all else fails, tell a joke about laying people off.

[LynneSin]

2. Help me remember, who was the president back in May of 2008?

nuff said!