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WASHINGTON (AP) - Newly laid off workers filing applications for unemployment benefits fell last week for a fifth consecutive time, pushing jobless claims to the lowest level in four months.
The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless applications totaled 293,000 last week, down by 5,000 from the previous week.
The unexpected drop caught analysts by surprise. They have been expecting claims to begin rising as a result of the economic slowdown triggered by a steep slump in the housing industry.
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