By Courtney Schlisserman Dec. 31 (Bloomberg) -- Fewer Americans than anticipated filed claims for unemployment benefits last week, pointing to an improvement in the labor market that will help sustain economic growth next year. Initial jobless claims fell by 22,000 to 432,000 in the week ended Dec. 26, the lowest level since July 2008, Labor Department figures showed today in Washington. The number of people receiving unemployment insurance fell in the prior week to 4.98 million, and those receiving extended benefits jumped. Companies are retaining staff as sales improve and production picks up. Gains in consumer spending, which accounts for 70 percent of the economy, may encourage more hiring in coming months, helping to bolster the rebound from the worst recession since the 1930s. “Claims are falling pretty sharply,” James O’Sullivan, chief economist at MF Global Ltd. in New York, said before the report. “It has been very encouraging for sustained economic recovery prospects. A true recovery, including a positive return to job growth, is unfolding.” Economists forecast claims would rise to 460,000 from a previously reported 452,000, according to the median of 29 projections in a Bloomberg News survey. Estimates ranged from 430,000 to 490,000. A Labor Department spokesman said last week’s figures were “consistent” with recent trends and were not influenced by any unusual factors. Even so, the week of the Christmas holiday is difficult to adjust for seasonal variations, he said. Trending Down The four-week moving average of initial claims, a less volatile measure, dropped to 460,250 last week from 465,750 the prior one. Claims are down from a 26-year high of 674,000 in the week ended March 27. Continuing claims decreased by 57,00 in the week ended Dec. 19, reaching the lowest level since February. The continuing claims figure does not include the number of Americans receiving extended benefits under federal programs. Today’s report showed the number of people who’ve use up their traditional benefits and are now collecting extended payments climbed by about 199,000 to 4.82 million in the week ended Dec. 12. Twenty-nine of the states and territories where workers are eligible to receive government extension have begun to report that data, a Labor Department spokesman said. Two states have started reporting data on the latest emergency extension, he said. Emergency Extension President Barack Obama this month signed into law legislation that included a stopgap provision to ensure that unemployment benefits weren’t cut off over the holidays. The unemployment rate among people eligible for benefits, which tends to track the jobless rate, held at 3.8 percent in the week ended Dec. 19, today’s report showed. Twenty-seven states and territories reported a decrease in claims, while 26 reported an increase. These data are reported with a one-week lag. The government is scheduled to release its December payrolls report on Jan. 8. In November, the economy lost the fewest jobs since the recession began two years ago and the unemployment rate receded to 10 percent from a 26-year high of 10.2 percent the prior month. Even so, Americans are concerned about their financial future. Fewer consumers in December believed their incomes will increase over the next three to six months, the Conference Board’s confidence report this week showed. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is among companies that slashed employment in 2009. The Omaha, Nebraska-based company last week said it cut 21,000 workers from its payroll amid a slump at the firm’s manufacturing and retail units. The company and its subsidiaries now have about 225,000 workers, it said in regulatory filings. For Related News and Information: News on the U.S. labor market: TNI US LABOR Stories on the U.S. economy: TNI US ECO Stories on consumers: TNI US CONS For a news search on the recession: STNI USRECESSION

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