Analysts Say US Economy Still Unstable

Fewer people are claiming unemployment benefits - but still too many to signal that the economy is close to gaining jobs. First-time claims for jobless benefits dropped last week to a seasonally adjusted 502,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. That's the fewest claims since the week ending Jan. 3. Jobless benefits claims would have to fall to the high 400s in order to indicate the economy could soon produce even a slight gain in jobs. That level of claims could be reached by January and the economy should start gaining jobs sometime in the first quarter of 2010. President Barack Obama announced Thursday that he'll host a White House summit next month on combating the chronic joblessness that continues to be a drag on a struggling economy. Please visit ebrunews.com for more info and news.