Jobless claims recede from 3-month high, but unemployment filings jump for federal workers

The first trickle of federal workers losing their jobs showed up last week in U.S. applications for unemployment benefits, but many more filings are likely in the next few months as the full scope of mass layoffs become clear.

New jobless claims actually fell by 21,000 to 221,000 in the seven days that ended March 1, the government said They had touched a three-month high in late February.