Jobless Claims Decline for Week

Initial jobless claims fell by 24,000 last week, the Labor Department said Thursday.

Claims fell to 456,000 for the week ended Saturday, Labor said. Economists had forecast claims would fall to 450,000.

The four-week moving average, a less volatile measure, rose to 460,250, from 457,500 the previous week.

Continuing claims for the previous week ended April 10 fell by 40,000 to 4.65 million, though that figure does not include those receiving extended unemployment benefits.