Livewire Weekly Unemployment Applications Drop To Lowest Level In 4 Years by David Taintor 02.16.12 | 3:40 am 1 Weekly unemployment applications last week dropped to 348,000, the AP reports, the lowest level in four years. Analysts expected about 365,000, Business Insider reports. Send Tips David Taintor is a New York-based senior editor who oversees breaking news coverage. He previously worked at NBC News.