US jobless claims dip during survey reference week
19-04-2018 13:06
The number of new people filing for unemployment benefits in the US was little changed last week, holding near the lowest levels seen for several decades.
Initial jobless claims declined by 1,000 over the week ending on 14 April to reach 232,000, according to the Department of Labor.
The prior week's estimate of 233,000 claims was unrevised, the government said. Also according to Labor, claims data in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands had yet to return to normal.
In parallel, the four-week moving average edged higher by 1,250 to 231,250.
To take note of, Thursday's data coincided with the survey week for the April employment and non-farm payrolls report.
On that note, economists at Barclays Research said: "Relative to the March survey week, initial claims are up 5k versus the 227k reading a month ago and the four-week average is 6k higher.
"From our point of view, and despite the modest increase in claims in the April survey week relative to March, the initial claims data remains consistent with low rates of job separation and healthy labor market conditions."
Meanwhile, secondary unemployment claims, those that are not being filed for the first time, and referencing the week before last, fell by 15,000 to 1.863m.
