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Initial jobless claims fell by 5,000 last week, the Labor Department said Thursday.

Claims declined to 457,000, about in line with economists’ forecasts, Bloomberg reported.

The four-week moving average, a less volatile measure, fell to 471,250 from 475,500 the previous week.

Continuing jobless claims for the previous week ended March 6 fell 12,000 to 4.58 million, though that does not include those receiving extended unemployment benefits.