WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- The number of U.S. people initially applying for unemployment aid last week fell by 42,000 from the previous week, the U.S. Labor Department reported Thursday.

The Labor Department said that the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims for jobless benefits was 415,000 in the week ending Jan. 29, decreasing from the prior week's revised figure of 457,000.

The number had surged in the previous week after snowstorms in the Southeast disrupted work and led to temporary layoffs.

The four-week moving average, which more closely watched claims figure, increased to 430,500 from the previous week's revised average of 429,500.

Economists said that fewer than 425,000 people applying for aid is consistent with modest job growth, but the number of jobless claims will have to fall to 375,000 or below to signal a sustained drop in the unemployment rate.

The weekly figures of jobless benefits application reflect the level of layoffs and indicate real-time condition of American job market.