New jobless claims lowest since January

WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of newly laid-off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits falls to the lowest level in 10 months, evidence that job cuts are easing as the economy slowly heals. Still, companies are reluctant to hire and economists expect the unemployment rate will tick up to 9.9 percent when October's figure is reported Friday. The Labor Department says first-time claims for jobless benefits fell by 20,000 to a seasonally adjusted 512,000. Economists had expected 523,000 new claims. read more

NECN | November 5, 2009

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