WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New U.S. claims for unemployment benefits dipped more than expected last week, a government report showed on Wednesday, signaling continuing amelioration of the struggling labor market.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits fell 34,000 to a seasonally adjusted 407,000 in the week ending November 20, the Labor Department said. It was the lowest since the week ending July 19, 2008 just before the financial crisis intensified.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast a modest decline in claims to 435,000.
