Initial jobless claims and continuing claims fall, evidence that layoffs are easing

WASHINGTON — The government says the number of newly laid-off workers filing for unemployment insurance dropped last week, a sign job cuts are easing.

New jobless claims jump unexpectedly to 627,000; continuing claims rise to 6.74 million

WASHINGTON — The number of people filing new jobless claims jumped unexpectedly last week, and the total unemployment benefit rolls rose to more than 6.7 million.