In addition, the Labor Department said that new jobless claims dropped last week, but remain high.

Initial claims for unemployment benefits are dropping, although they remain high.

Initial jobless claims dropped by 4,000, to 310,000, in the week that ended May 26.

And with each claim one drops, one feels better.

This offset the strong report of last week, when initial jobless claims dropped 40,000.

Initial jobless claims dropped 25,000 in the last week, to 402,000, the lowest level since the beginning of February.

Recognizing Long's priority, others withdrew their claims and Congress dropped the bill.

Initial claims for unemployment insurance dropped last week to a rather low level of 348,000.

Ongoing claims dropped to the lowest level since October 2008.

In addition, weekly jobless claims dropped to their lowest level since March 2001, the government said.