Jobless Applications Fall Last Week

Washington, DC, Oct. 2, 2014 — Initial applications for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, according to the Labor Department.

Jobless claims declined by 8,000 to 287,000 from a revised 295,000 in the previous week.

Economists expected 297,000 new claims.

The four-week moving average, a less volatile measure than the weekly figures, fell to 294,750 last week from 299,000.