Business briefs: Initial jobless claims fall lower than expected

WASHINGTON – Initial jobless claims declined more than expected last week, falling back below the 300,000 level that indicates a healthy labor market.

About 283,000 people filed for first-time unemployment benefits, down from 304,000 the previous week, the Labor Department said Thursday.

The drop was more than forecast by economists, who expected 290,000 initial claims.

Claims had been running below 300,000 for most of the fourth quarter of last year before bumping up a bit to start 2015.

But the four-week average, which smooths out some of the volatility, indicates initial claims are still consistent with the solid job growth the economy has posted in recent months.

The four-week average fell 6,500 last week, to 283,250.

Federal Reserve policymakers are watching the labor market closely as they decide when to start raising the central bank’s benchmark short-term interest rate.

Cargo numbers down in NW for third month

To almost no one’s surprise, cargo container numbers handled by the ports of Tacoma and Seattle declined by 13 percent last month.

January was the third month in a row to see cargo volume declines at the two ports. Those ports, which are forming an alliance to jointly market and operate their marine terminals, are now reporting their cargo statistics jointly rather than separately.

The cargo handling decline was related to a labor dispute between shipping line and terminal owners and the Longshore Union, said the two ports.

Normal cargo handling volume dropped beginning Oct. 31 at the two ports and has continued unabated since then. The Pacific Maritime Association, which represents waterfront employers, blames the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. The ILWU blames terminal management incompetence for the volume decrease. The two have operated without a contract since July 1.

Disney World tickets about to pass $100

ORLANDO, Fla. – It looks like Walt Disney World ticket prices will break the $100 barrier, possibly as soon as this weekend.

Some employees say Disney management has told them one-day ticket prices will rise to $105 for the Magic Kingdom and $99 for the three other resort parks.

Disney has not confirmed the price increases.

Currently one-day tickets to the Magic Kingdom cost $99 before tax. The other parks cost $94.

Disney raised its prices last February, and ticket prices typically rise on Sundays.

Alert devices sought for big rigs, buses

DETROIT – Four highway safety groups are asking the U.S. government to require tractor-trailers and big buses to have devices that alert drivers to stopped traffic and brake the trucks if they don’t respond.

The groups petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Thursday seeking the requirement. They say the systems could prevent more than 2,500 crashes per year, but the agency hasn’t required them.

The groups say that from 2003 to 2008 there were 32,000 crashes in which trucks rear-ended other vehicles, killing at least 300 people per year and injuring more than 15,000. They say only 3 percent of the 3 million tractor-trailers on the road now have the technology.