WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Labor Department says the number of newly laid-off workers filing first-time claims for jobless benefits fell last week by 6,000 to 462,000. It is a fresh sign suggesting that the employment picture is improving. At the same time, the four-week average of claims, which smooths volatility, rose to its highest level since November. That reflects a large jump in claims last month.
The latest figures come after other mildly positive news on employment. Job openings rose in January to their highest level in almost a year. And the unemployment rate was unchanged at 9.7 percent in February better than analysts expected. The jobless rate hasn't risen since October.
But the economy has a long way to go to repair the damage done by the Great Recession. The nation has lost 8.4 million jobs since the recession began in December 2007.
FINANCIAL OVERHAUL
Dodd to offer financial regulation bill
WASHINGTON AP) -- Unable to muster bipartisan agreement on key banking provisions, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd says he will offer his own version of a sweeping overhaul of financial regulations without Republican support.
A month of talks between Dodd and Republican Sen. Bob Corker had found common ground on but details on key provisions, including consumer protections and other sticking points.
He says a few outstanding issues remain. Dodd says he still aims to get a consensus bill, but said time is running out.
Congress and the administration have been trying to assemble an overhaul of regulations in hopes of preventing a recurrence of the financial crisis that hit the nation in the fall of 2008. The House passed its version of a bill in December on a party-line vote.
