There were 330,000 first-time claims for benefits last week, down 5,000 from the week before. That means applications remain at the lowest level since January 2008.

The number of first-time claims for unemployment insurance dipped by 5,000 last week from the week before, to 330,000, the Employment and Training Administration reports.

That means claims remain at a low level not seen since January 2008.

Another measure, the "4-week moving average" that is supposed to give a broader look at the trend, declined by 8,250 — to 351,750.

Bloomberg News cautions that the claims figures may be affected by "challenges in adjusting the data for swings at the start of a year."

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