Claims for unemployment benefits fall to 254,000

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fewer Americans signed up for unemployment benefits last week, the second straight week that claims have declined.
THE NUMBERS: The Labor Department said Thursday that weekly claims for jobless benefits dropped by 4,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 254,000, the lowest level in three weeks. The less-volatile four-week average rose by 5,250 to 257,750. Overall, 2.02 million Americans are collecting unemployment checks, down 10.1 percent from a year ago.
THE TAKEAWAY: