The number of laid off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits fell by 15,000. That's the largest decline in three months.
A total of 338,000 applications for jobless benefits were filed nationwide. Claims had surged the week before, to the highest level since February. That leaves the four-week average for claims still rising.
Analysts caution against reading too much into last week's improvement, because the numbers around holiday periods are typically volatile.
Economists are looking for the labor market to weaken under the impact of a variety of blows to the economy, including the downturn in housing, the credit crunch and rising energy prices.
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