The number of Americans filing new jobless claims has fallen, while the number of people who previously filed for these benefits and continue to receive them has increased, according to the latest government data.
Initial jobless claims—people who newly filed for unemployment benefits—was 219,000 for the week ending Dec. 21, the U.S. Department of Labor said in a Dec. 26 statement. This was lower than the forecast of 223,000 claims and less than the previous week’s number. It is also the lowest level in the past four weeks.
