US Weekly Jobless Claims Fall By 2,000 to 339,000

Lowest in a month

Applications for U.S. unemployment benefits declined last week to the lowest level in a month as the volatility typical during the year-end holidays waned.

Jobless claims fell by 2,000 to 339,000 in the period ended Dec. 28, Labor Department data showed today in Washington. The medianforecast of 26 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for 344,000 claims.