美國就業市場稍有改善

Economic reports published Thursday show the U.S. housing and job markets getting a little better. The Labor Department says 5,000 fewer Americans signed up for unemployment compensation last week, putting the nationwide total at 388,000. While that is the lowest level since last April, it is still above the level seen in a healthy economy.

The U.S. unemployment rate has fallen to 9 percent and some economists say it is likely to decline slowly. A separate report from the Commerce Department shows builders started construction on slightly fewer homes in October, but the number of building permits issued for future construction surged, particularly for apartments.星期四發表的經濟報告顯示，美國住房和就業市場稍有改善。美國勞工部說，上週申請失業補貼的美國人減少5千人，全國失業補貼的申請人數爲38.8萬人。這是失業補貼申請人數4月以來的最低點，但仍然高於一個健康經濟體應有的水平。

美國失業率下降到9%，一些經濟學家說，這一數字可能會緩慢下降。美國勞工部的另一份報告顯示，建築商10月份新建住房數量小幅下降，但美國頒發的未來建設許可數量快速上升，特別是公寓建設許可。