Weekly unemployment benefit applications

• Average for jobless claims at fresh five-year low

  By Christopher S. Rugaber  |  March 21, 2013

  The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment aid barely changed last week, while the average over the past month fell to a fresh five-year low. The decline in layoffs is helping strengthen the job market.

• 

  Jobless claims drop to five-year low

  By Christopher S. Rugaber  |  January 24, 2013

  The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid fell last week to the lowest level in five years, evidence that employers are cutting fewer jobs and may step up hiring.

• 

  Jobless aid apps hit five-year low

  By Christopher S. Rugaber  |  January 17, 2013

  The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid plummeted to a five-year low last week, a hopeful sign the job market may be improving. But much of the decline reflects seasonal volatility in the data.

• Obama: Economy has to grow 'even faster'

  By Ben Feller  |  July 6, 2012

  A sobering economic snapshot intensified the presidential campaign on Friday as President Barack Obama rolled through two vote-rich battleground states and Republican Mitt Romney fended off conservative complaints about his plan for winning.

• 

  Hiring outlook improves, economy remains weak

  By Christopher S. Rugaber  |  July 5, 2012

  The outlook for the U.S. job market brightened a little Thursday after the government said fewer people applied for unemployment benefits last week and surveys of private companies showed hiring increased in June.

• US jobless aid applications fall to 6-week low

  By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER, AP Economics Writer  |  July 5, 2012

  Fewer people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, and a private survey showed hiring picked up in June. The reports offered some hope for the job market after three sluggish months of hiring.

• US service sector grows at slowest pace in 2 years

  By MARTIN CRUTSINGER,AP Economics Writer  |  July 5, 2012

  U.S. service companies grew in June at the slowest pace in nearly two and a half years, a troubling sign for the economy.

• Jobless aid apps rise to 386K

  By Christopher S. Rugaber  |  June 14, 2012

  More Americans sought unemployment aid last week, suggesting hiring remains sluggish.

• Jobless aid apps hit two-month high

  By Christopher S. Rugaber  |  April 12, 2012

  More people sought unemployment benefits last week, pushing the number of applicants to the highest level in two months.

• Unemployment aid applications at 395k, 4-month low

  By Daniel Wagner  |  August 11, 2011

  The number of people seeking unemployment benefits fell last week below 400,000 for the first time in four months, a sign that the job market may be improving slowly after a recent slump.