New claims for US unemployment insurance benefits rose modestly last week but the overall trend fell to a 15-year low, the Labor Department reported Thursday.
Initial jobless claims, a sign of the pace of layoffs, rose by 3,000 to 265,000 in the week ending May 2, the department said.
The four-week moving average, which helps to smooth volatility in the weekly numbers, fell by 4,250 to 279,500, the lowest level since early May 2000. A year ago the average stood at 324,750.
The claims data came a day ahead of the government's April jobs report. The Labor Department is expected to report Friday that the economy added 218,000 jobs last month, rebounding from a tepid 126,000 in March, with the unemployment rate dipping a tenth point to 5.4 percent.
"Claims continue to show no sign of an uptrend, consistent with a still-strong trend in employment growth," said Jim O'Sullivan, chief US economist at High Frequency Economics, in a client note.
"The pattern does not assure a 200K-plus rise in payrolls tomorrow, but it suggests the trend is still at least that strong. We are still forecasting a 260K rise."
GMT 14:02 2018 Sunday ,02 December
RDIF says $2 billion will be invested in Russian economy from joint Russian-Saudi fundGMT 12:03 2018 Friday ,30 November
Canada on track to sign new free trade deal with US and MexicoGMT 07:59 2018 Wednesday ,21 November
Merkel policies in focus in final debate on draft German budgetGMT 16:57 2018 Wednesday ,31 October
Putin to discuss relations development prospectsGMT 16:04 2018 Monday ,29 October
Russian, Cuban presidents to discuss strategic partnershipGMT 12:57 2018 Saturday ,27 October
"Undeclared war" forces Russia to boost defense spendingGMT 15:45 2018 Friday ,26 October
Medvedev to represent Russia at upcoming APEC summitGMT 14:12 2018 Thursday ,25 October
Saudi Arabia plans to invest in Russian-Chinese Fund soonMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor