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Jobless claims fall
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September 23, 1999: 9:10 a.m. ET
At 272,000, jobless claims lowest since 269,000 in January 1974
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) - New claims for unemployment benefits fell last week to their lowest level in 25 years, the Labor Department reported Thursday, demonstrating the nation's continuing strong labor market.
The number of Americans filing first-time claims for state unemployment benefits was 272,000 for the week ended Sept. 18, down from a revised 289,000 the week before and their lowest since the 269,000 in the week ended Jan. 5 1974. Economists surveyed by Reuters had anticipated 285,000 initial claims.
The four-week moving average, which generally provides a more accurate picture of jobless trends, dropped to 285,750 from a revised 289,000 the prior week.
Continued claims were 2,186,000 for the week ended Sept.11, the latest data available, down from a revised 2,225,000 a week earlier.
The latest data had no immediate impact on the bond market. In early trading, the benchmark 30-year Treasury was little changed, leaving its yield at 6.08 percent. 
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