Jobless Claims Drop to 369,000

Spencer Platt/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Jobless claims took a turn last week, falling by 23,000 after nearing the dreaded 400,000 mark, the Labor Department reported on Thursday.

For the week ending Oct. 20, the number of people filing for benefits dropped to 369,000.  The previous week, claims stood at 392,000.

The four-week average, meanwhile, inched up slightly, climbing by 1,500 to 368,000.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio