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The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell 19,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 326,000, the fewest since January 2008. The decline shows the job market continues to strengthen.

The Labor Department said Thursday that the less volatile four-week average slid 4,500 to 345,750. The July figures are typically volatile as the government adjusts for seasonal layoffs in the auto industry.

Still, the trend in weekly unemployment claims in recent months has been positive. Applications, which are a proxy for layoffs, have fallen more than 12 percent this year. That’s coincided with average job growth of 202,000 a month since January, up from an average of 180,000 in the previous six months.

On Friday, the government reports on July job growth and unemployment. Analysts forecast 183,000 jobs were added last month, and the unemployment rate fell to 7.5 percent from 7.6 percent in June.

A private survey released Wednesday showed surprising strength in the job market. The payroll company ADP said that companies created 200,000 jobs in July, the most for that survey since December. And it revised up its estimate of the number of jobs the private sector created in June to 198,000 from 188,000. More at http://business.time.com/2013/08/01/u-s-unemployment-claims-fall-to-32
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