Initial unemployment claims fell 14,000 to a seasonally adjusted 442,000 in the week that ended March 20 according to Thurday’s Labor Department report.
The claims, using the seasonal revisions are 10,000 lower than less careful calculations would have indicated according to a Labor Department official.
The drop, exceeded analyst expectations of 450,000 claims by 8,000.
The four-week average, which is relied upon as a more telling measurement of employment also declined 11,000 to 453,750.
Weekly claims had risen toward the end of January and beginning of February but have since declined, weighing in 2.6 percent lower than at the close of 2009.
Despite this progress hiring is still weak as companies push for higher productivity from current employees rather than expand their staff prior to consistently heightened demand.
The unemployment rate continues to hover at 9.7 percent and is predicted to maintain that level until the end of the year.
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