Unemployment claims drop for second straight week

WASHINGTON - The number of people requesting unemployment benefits declined for the second straight week, suggesting that the slowing economy isn't prompting widespread job cuts.

The Labor Department says new claims for unemployment aid fell last week by 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 472,000. Economists had expected a slight increase, according to a survey by Thomson Reuters.

The four-week average of claims, a less-volatile measure, fell by 2,500 to 485,500, its first decrease after four straight increases.

Even with the declines, claims are still at much higher levels than they would be in a healthy economy. When economic output is growing rapidly and employers are hiring, claims generally drop below 400,000.

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