星期四发表的经济报告显示，美国住房和就业市场稍有改善。美国劳工部说，上周申请失业补贴的美国人减少5千人，全国失业补贴的申请人数为38.8万人。这是失业补贴申请人数4月以来的最低点，但仍然高于一个健康经济体应有的水平。

美国失业率下降到9%，一些经济学家说，这一数字可能会缓慢下降。美国劳工部的另一份报告显示，建筑商10月份新建住房数量小幅下降，但美国颁发的未来建设许可数量快速上升，特别是公寓建设许可。

Economic reports published Thursday show the U.S. housing and job markets getting a little better. The Labor Department says 5,000 fewer Americans signed up for unemployment compensation last week, putting the nationwide total at 388,000. While that is the lowest level since last April, it is still above the level seen in a healthy economy.

The U.S. unemployment rate has fallen to 9 percent and some economists say it is likely to decline slowly. A separate report from the Commerce Department shows builders started construction on slightly fewer homes in October, but the number of building permits issued for future construction surged, particularly for apartments.