November 9, 2006 8:30 AM, EST

Initial Jobless Claims Fall 20,000 For Week

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irst-time U.S. jobless fell 20,000 last week to 308,000, the Labor Department said Thursday.

Economists had expected a decline to 318,000 from last week’s initially-reported 327,000, Bloomberg said.

The less-volatile four-week moving average fell to 311,250 from 311,500.

ontinuing jobless claims for the week ended Oct. 28 rose to 2.448 million from 2.405 million a week earlier.