First-time claims for jobless benefits fell last week, hitting the lowest level we've seen since January. The U.S. Department of Labor pegged the number at 521,000. This is down from the previous week's 554,000 (which had been revised upward). Wall Street economists anticipated 540,000. Claims of this type have fallen four times in five weeks, and the four-week average reached 539,750 – its lowest level since January 17, 2009.

In general, first-time claims for unemployment benefits have been declining since the spring, though slowly. Unfortunately, they still remain well above the 325,000 that economists claim to be indicative of a healthy economy.

According to a report in BusinessWeek, we have some startling and disheartening statistics on unemployment. Some of these numbers are the highest on record.

Let's look at these numbers:

• In the past year 5.5 million people exhausted their standard 26 week unemployment benefits, the highest on record.
• 3.4 million people depend on extended benefits which last about 20 wees, also a record.
• Extended benefits vary by state, ranging from 20 weeks to 53 weeks. More than half of states have triggered the 53 week benefits.
• According to the National Law Employment Project 402,000 Americans will exhaust their benefits by the end of September. That figure will more than triple by the end of October.