The number of U.S. workers filing new applications for jobless benefits fell sharply last week, the government reported Thursday, reversing a recent spike that had raised concerns about renewed labor-market weakness. The Labor Department said jobless claims fell by 43,000 to 440,000 last week, the lowest total in a month. Economists had expected a decline of 15,000. A department analyst said the decline largely reflects the end of administrative backlogs that had elevated jobless claims the previous three weeks. "We are resuming a normal level with all states reporting an appropriate base level," the official said. The four-week moving average of jobless claims, which smoothes weekly fluctuations, fell by 1,000 last week to 468,400, the report said. The total number of people receiving unemployment benefits fell by almost 80,000 last week to 4.5 million, the lowest level in 13 months.
