The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits fell 10,000 last week, largely in line with expectations, a government report showed on Thursday.
Initial claims for state unemployment insurance aid fell to 318,000 in the week ended March 12 from a revised 328,000 the prior week, the Labor Department said. The level of 318,000 was the lowest since late February.
Analysts had anticipated a drop in claims to 315,000 from the originally reported 327,000 level the prior week.
