A person fills out an unemployment benefits application. WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of Americans collecting unemployment benefits fell to a 52-year low after another decline in jobless aid applications last week.Jobless claims fell by 17,000, from 249,000 to 232,000 for the week ending Feb.
19, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The four-week average for claims, which compensates for weekly volatility, fell by 7,250 to 236,250.In total, 1,476,000 Americans were collecting jobless aid the week that ended Feb.