Jobless claims fall, trade gap narrows, foreclosure rates up by smallest amount in 4 years

Scream it from the rooftops people!!

(Reuters) - The number of U.S. workers filing new applications for unemployment benefits fell slightly less than expected last week, hinting at a slow labor market recovery.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits slipped 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 462,000 from 468,000 the prior week, the Labor Department said on Thursday. That was a touch less than market expectations for 460,000.

Separately, the Commerce Department said the nation's trade gap shrank 6.6 percent to $37.3 billion as oil imports fell to their lowest since February 1999. However, U.S. exports also declined. Analysts had expected the deficit to widen to $41.0 billion from $39.9 billion in December.

Not enough good news for you? Try this one on-

ASSOCIATED PRESS- The foreclosure crisis isn't over, but the pace of growth finally may be slowing down.

RealtyTrac Inc. said Thursday that the number of U.S. households facing foreclosure in February grew 6 percent from the year-ago level, the smallest annual increase in four years.