The initial reports on unemployment claims for the week ending Nov. 15 show that less Americans are applying for unemployment benefits.

According to the Labor Department, 291,000 people filed for benefits during that period. That's 2,000 less than the 293,000 who applied the week previous.

That makes 10 straight weeks under the 300,000 mark, which signals less companies are cutting workers and more employees are headed back to work without relying on payment assistance from the government.

Even more pleasing news is that continuing claims rate, or those individuals who continue to file week after week for unemployment benefits, fell to a 14 year low. These numbers show that less employers are laying off workers and more workers are being hired.

The four week average of unemployment claims is hovering at 287,500 claims. This is generally a better measure of the actual health of the U.S. workforce than the weekly numbers.

The workers who are on extended unemployment benefits, sometimes up to 26 weeks (or more), that level is at 2.33 million for the period that ended Nov. 8. That's the lowest level since 2000, signaling a better overall economy.

The economy is not where it was in 2000, but it's getting closer. Companies are still operating with smaller workforces but these numbers are encouraging to those fearing layoffs or job eliminations.

Falling gas prices have helped offset the rise in prices of housing and medical costs, CNBC reports. This could be a sign of more Americans willing to drive a little further to their workplaces.

With Wall Street stocks continuing to break records and less Americans using unemployment assistance, could this be a sign of a strong economy? Or do the other factors in the geopolitical world limit the U.S.'s progress? What do you think? Leave us a comment and let us know your thoughts on the economy in the U.S. and in the rest of the world.

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