Claims Data Reflect Tight Labor Market

Despite auto workers’ strikes that idled thousands of workers, new claims for jobless benefits fell last week for the first time in a month.

First-time applications for unemployment insurance totaled a seasonally adjusted 324,000, down 8,000 from 332,000 during the week ended April 12, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The April 12 total was the highest since last January.

The decline, larger than the 2,000 forecast by some analysts, was the first since benefit claims slipped by 3,000 during the week ended March 22.

The drop occurred despite a strike at a Chrysler plant in Detroit that has caused parts shortages leading to layoffs at 18 other Chrysler plants. Scattered strikes at other auto plants have affected related work forces.