Washington, Rajab 12, 1439, Mar 29, 2018, SPA -- The number of people filing initial applications for U.S. state unemployment benefits fell to a more than 45-year low last week, the government reported Thursday, suggesting the economy remains strong despite signs of a slowdown in the first quarter. The Labor Department said jobless claims fell 12,000 to 215,000 last week, the lowest level since January 1973, when the labor market was far smaller. Claims now have been below 300,000—a level associated with an improving job market—for 158 consecutive weeks, the longest stretch since 1970. The four-week moving average of jobless claims—a better measure of labor-market trends because it smoothes weekly volatility—fell 500 to 224,500 last week. The labor market is considered to be near or at full employment. The unemployment rate is at a 17-year low of 4.1 percent, not far from the Federal Reserve (Fed) forecast for 3.8 percent by the end of this year. --SPA 18:52 LOCAL TIME 15:52 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w654497