The number of first-time claims for jobless benefits fell by a larger-than-expected 43,000 last week from the week before, the Employment and Training Administration just reported. It said 440,000 people filed for the benefits, the Associated Press and Reuters report.

Economists had been expecting a decline of 15,000 to 20,000.

The number of first-time claims had been edging up in recent weeks — though it was still well below the levels of a year ago.

Planet Money follows the economy's ups and downs here.