Unemployment benefits

( By The Associated Press / October 11, 2012 )

In this Thursday, Oct. 4, file photo, United States Air Force Master Sgt. Matt Ditarando, center, talks with Wal-Mart store manager Craig Edwards at the Hiring Our Heroes job fair at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid plummeted last week to seasonally adjusted 339,000, the lowest level in more than four years. The sharp drop offered a hopeful sign that the job market could pick up.