14,000 fewer jobless claims filed in week

WASHINGTON, March 15 (UPI) -- The four-week rolling average of first-time unemployment benefits fell sharply in the week ending Saturday, the U.S. Labor Department said.

After rising by 8,000 in the previous week, initial benefit claims fell by 14,000 to 351,000, the department said Thursday.

The four-week rolling average was unchanged at 355,750, the department said.

The U.S. unemployment rate was 8.3 percent in February, unchanged from January, despite the addition of 227,000 jobs in the month.