The numbers: Initial jobless benefit claims fell by 13,000 to 216,000 in the week ended Sept. 2, the U.S. Labor Department said Thursday. This is the lowest level since mid-February.
Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had estimated new claims would rise 2,000 to 230,000. Last week claims fell a revised 3,000 to 229,000. That compared with the initial estimate of a…