Updated Financial News - Unemployment, Job Cuts, Loan Rates

The Labor Department reported this morning that Americans filing for first time unemployment benefits declined in the latest week. Weekly Initial Jobless Claims fell by 15,000 to 330,00, the lowest level since 305,000 in the week ended November 30th. The numbers could still be skewed by the seasonal holiday jobs market, which begins Thanksgiving and ends near the middle of January.

Out placement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas reports that planned job cuts by employers across the U.S. fell by 32% from November (45,315) to December (30,623). From 2013 to 2013, job cuts declined by 3%, the lowest planned job-cut tally since 1997. The monthly decline in planned job cuts is the first decrease since June 2000.

Government sponsored entity Freddie Mac reported this morning that the 30-year fixed rate home loan rate is at 4.51% this week, just near where they were in the previous week. However, to obtain that rate, a potential borrower would have to pay 0.7 in points and fees. Home loan rates have moved up from the record lows hit back in 2012 of 3.4%, though the current rates are still low by historical standards.