This is the type of surprise everyone likes. Well, everyone besides the Republicans who seem thrilled with the economic problems that they created. Again, the numbers remain very bad but the turnaround has to start somewhere.
Fewer people applied for unemployment benefits last week, the second drop in a row and a hopeful sign the job market could be improving.
Still, economists cautioned that the trend would have to continue for several more weeks before a solid conclusion could be drawn that hiring is picking up.
Applications for jobless benefits dropped by 21,000 to a seasonally adjusted 434,000 in the week that ended Oct. 23, the Labor Department said Thursday.
