In a potential sign of a mending economy, unemployment claims for the week ending Dec. 25 fell 34,000 to 388,000, the lowest levels since July 2008. However, the good news might be slightly enhanced by it being the week of Christmas, which can throw a wrench into into how the claims are tallied. The last two years have seen the same trend, with claims then jumping upward in January. The news was received by unemployed folks in the same way as when you were a kid you found a cool wrapped present only to discover it was only a decoration.

Weekly jobless claims drop below 400,000 [Marketwatch]

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