Fewer Americans file for jobless benefits last week

By MATT OTT
AP Business Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. applications for unemployment benefits fell last week to their lowest level in 16 weeks, defying the Federal Reserve’s attempts to slow the economy and bring down inflation. The Labor Department said Thursday that the number of Americans applying for jobless aid for the week ending Jan. 14 fell by 15,000 to 190,000, from 205,000 the week before. The four-week moving average of claims, which can even out the week-to-week volatility, declined by 6,500 to 206,000. About 1.65 million people were receiving jobless aid the week that ended Jan. 7, an increase of 17,000 from the week before.