Initial claims for state unemployment benefits
dropped 16,000 to a seasonally adjusted 212,000 for the week
ended May 11, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Data for
the prior week was unrevised.
Claims had been stuck at higher levels for three straight weeks,
reflecting difficulties stripping out seasonal fluctuations from
the data around moving holidays like Easter, Passover and school
spring breaks.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast claims would fall to
220,000 in the latest week. The Labor Department said no states
were estimated last week.
The four-week moving average of initial claims, considered a
better measure of labor market trends as it irons out
week-to-week volatility, rose 4,750 to 225,000 last week.
The labor market is strong, with the unemployment rate near a
50-year low of 3.6%. The robust job market is supporting the
economy as the boost from the White House's $1.5 trillion tax
cut package fades and President Donald Trump's escalating trade
war with China disrupts supply chains at factories, which are
already struggling with an inventory bloat that has cut
production.
Thursday's claims report showed the number of people receiving
benefits after an initial week of aid decreased 28,000 to 1.66
million for the week ended May 4. The four-week moving average
of the so-called continuing claims rose 1,500 to 1.67 million.
(Reporting by Lucia Mutikani Editing by Paul Simao)
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