Gotta get the good news out.

The number of newly unemployed seeking jobless benefits fell more sharply than expected last week, taking a key reading to its lowest level in more than four years, the government reported Thursday.

There were 350,000 filing for initial jobless claims in the week, down from the 362,000 who sought assistance a week earlier. Economists surveyed by Briefing.com had forecast 375,000 would be seeking help last week.

The four-week moving average, which economists prefer to look at since it smooths out the volatility in the weekly numbers, fell by 11,250 to 356,750 last week, as a spike in claims in the wake of Superstorm Sandy faded into the background and the labor market continues to show signs of improvement.

Who’s manipulating what now?

The U.S. economy added 146,000 jobs in November, and the unemployment rate fell to 7.7% from 7.9% in October, the Labor Department said. That’s the lowest unemployment rate since December 2008.

Economists surveyed by CNNMoney had expected a far weaker report, factoring in distortions from Superstorm Sandy. Despite the storm, the Labor Department said its survey response rates were in normal ranges.

“Our analysis suggests that Hurricane Sandy did not substantively impact the national employment and unemployment estimates for November,” the Labor Department said in a press release.

The Labor Department typically revises its jobs numbers several times. In Friday’s report, job growth was revised lower in both September and October, subtracting 49,000 jobs from the 2012 total.