Jobless Claims Match Four-Year Low

Initial jobless claims declined by 14,000 and matched the lowest level in four years, the Labor Department said Thursday.

Claims declined to 351,000 for the week ended Saturday, Labor said. Claims fell to the same number last month, the fewest since March 2008.

Economists had forecast 357,000 new claims, Bloomberg reported.

The four-week moving average, a less volatile measure, was little changed at 355,750.

Continuing jobless claims for the previous week ended March 3 fell by 81,000 to 3.34 million.