Jobless Claims Dip 4,000 for Week

Initial jobless claims rose 4,000 to 307,000 last week, the Labor Department said Thursday.

The less-volatile four-week moving average fell to 305,000 claims, from 309.000.

Economists had forecast an increase to 310,000 claims, Bloomberg reported.

The number of people continuing to collect benefits fell to 2.525 million for the previous week ended July 21, from 2.541 million a week earlier, Labor said.