<table> </table> <strong><span class="subhead">Jobless claims</span></strong></p><p>The <strong>Labor Department </strong>on Thursday reported 365,000 applications for unemployment benefits last week, a decline of 18,000 from the previous week. Economists had been looking for a smaller decrease of about 5,000. Jobless claims have been volatile in recent weeks because of strike-related layoffs in the auto industry and an unusually early Easter, which has played havoc with the government&#8217;s seasonal adjustment measurements.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Higher still</span></strong></p><p>Gasoline and crude oil set records again Thursday, with gas rising 3 cents to an average national price of nearly $3.65 a gallon and oil crossing $124 a barrel for the first time. Diesel prices also rose, adding 0.9 cents to match a record national average of $4.251 a gallon. Kansas City area gas prices averaged $3.50, up 2 cents. Light, sweet crude for June delivery rose 16 cents and closed at a record $123.69 a barrel in New York trading.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">Steady rates</span></strong></p><p><strong>Freddie Mac </strong>reported Thursday that 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 6.05 percent this week, compared with 6.06 percent last week. It marked the third week that 30-year rates have been above 6 percent. The average 15-year fixed-rate mortgage edged up to 5.60 percent from 5.59 percent. Five-year adjustable-rate mortgages dropped to 5.67 percent from 5.73 percent.