U.S. jobless claims fall by 5,000 to 305,000
California says it has cleared up backlog; claims near lowest level in six years
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — New applications for U.S. jobless benefits fell again last week and hovered just above a six-year low, but it’s unclear whether the decline stems from a pickup in hiring or is the residue of processing delays earlier in the month.

Initial claims dropped by 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 305,000 in the week ended Sept. 21, the Labor Department said Thursday. Economists polled by MarketWatch had expected claims to rise to 327,000 on the assumption that California would catch up on a backlog of claims. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-jobless-c...=afterbell