Weekly applications for US unemployment benefits decline to 323,000, lowest level in 3 months

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In this Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, photo, recruiter Valera Kulow, left, speaks with job seeker Monic Spencer during a career fair in Dallas. The Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims on Thursday, March 5, 2014. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

WASHINGTON – The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits dropped 26,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 323,000, the lowest level in three months as layoffs remain at pre-recession levels.

The Labor Department says the four-week average of applications, a less volatile measure, fell slightly to a seasonally adjusted 336,500.

That average indicates that companies are cutting few jobs and anticipate steady economic growth despite the winter slowdown. Applications are a rough proxy for layoffs.

Economists are watching these numbers ahead of the February jobs report being released Friday. Cold weather and snowstorms appear to have limited hiring in January and December.

A total of 3.4 million Americans received benefits as of Feb. 15 — the latest period for which figures are available — down from 3.49 million the previous week.

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