Initial Jobless Claims Fall 14,000 for Week

Initial jobless claims fell by 14,000 last week, the Labor Department said Thursday.

Claims slipped to 442,000 for the week ended Saturday, Labor said.

The four-week moving average, a less volatile measure, fell to 453,750, the lowest level since September 2008, from 464,750 the previous week.

Continuing claims for the previous week ended March 13 fell 54,000 to 4.65 million, the lowest since Dec. 20, 2008, though that figure does not include those receiving extended unemployment benefits.