Jobless Claims Fall for Week

Claims fell to 444,000 for the week ended Saturday, the lowest level in a month, Labor said. The level was slightly higher economists' forecasts of 440,000 claims, Bloomberg said.

The four-week moving average, a less volatile measure, rose to 458,500, from 463,250 the previous week.

Continuing claims for the previous week ended April 24 fell by 59,000 to 4.59 million, though that figure does not include those receiving extended unemployment benefits. Those claims were forecast to fall to 4.61 million.