Weekly unemployment claims dropped last week

Despite the decrease in claims, the unemployment rate remains persistently high, making it difficult for the economic recovery to root. 

The economy needs jobless claims to drop into the low 400,000s or high 300,000s to reflect stronger job growth in the private sector and propel the recovery. 

Concerns grew when weekly applications for jobless benefits increased above 500,000 last month. But the gradual decline has calmed fears that companies were going through another round of layoffs. 

The total number of people continuing to receive unemployment insurance fell by 83,000 in the week ended Sept. 18 to 4.46 million.

Those receiving extended benefits — up to 99 weeks in some states — who have exhausted their traditional benefits dropped by about 300,000 to 4.9 million in the week ended Sept. 11, the latest data available. About 8.8 million people received benefits that week.