The Department of Labor reports that last week saw 22,000 fewer jobless claims than were recorded the week before, but experts note that economic indicators -- including new unemployment claims -- are still pointing towards a recession. January marked the first time in four years that the overall number of jobs in the U.S. dropped, and the four week average for jobless claims reached 335,000.
See "Jobless claims fall, but number of laid-off workers high", Martin Crutsinger, USA Today, February 6, 2008