Jobless claims drop to 423,000 from 432,000

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http://www.marketwatch.com/story/jobless-claims-drop-to-423000-from-432000-2011-09-22

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — Fewer out-of-work Americans filed new claims for unemployment benefits last week, but applications remain at an elevated level that reflects the slow pace of hiring in the U.S., government data showed Thursday.

New requests for compensation in the week ended Sept. 17 fell by 9,000 to a total of 423,000, the Labor Department said. Initial claims from two weeks ago were revised up to 432,000 from an original reading of 428,000.

Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had expected new requests for jobless benefits to drop to 424,000, on a seasonally adjusted basis.