Fewer people seek jobless benefits

The number of US workers filing new claims for jobless benefits fell to 310,000, the lowest since October 2000. The government said the total was likely skewed too low because fewer auto factories than it predicted shut down to retool.

Last week’s decline of 39,000 was the biggest since December 2001, the Labour Department said in Washington. The four-week moving average of claims, a less-volatile indicator, fell to 336,000, the lowest since the week that ended May 22.

Jobless-claims numbers are hard to interpret in July because automakers shut plants to prepare for new models.