Reuters - The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits was unchanged at a low level last week, pointing to continued labor market strength that is driving the economy.
Labor market resilience, together with elevated inflation have led financial markets and some economists to expect that the Federal Reserve could delay cutting interest rates until September. A few economists doubt that the U.S. central bank will lower borrowing costs this year.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits were unchanged at a seasonally adjusted 212,000 for the week ended April 13, the Labor Department said on Thursday.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 215,000 claims in the latest week. Claims have been bouncing around in a 194,000-225,000 range this year.
Unadjusted claims declined 6,756 to 208,509 last week. Filings in California jumped by 3,063. There were also notable increases in claims in Connecticut, Georgia and Oregon.
These were more than offset by a decline of 4,551 in filings in New Jersey. Claims in the state had surged in the prior week, a move that was blamed on layoffs in the accommodation and food services, transportation and warehousing, and public administration industries. There were also significant decreases in filings in Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
The claims data covered the period during which the government surveyed businesses and other establishments for the nonfarm payrolls component of April's employment report. Claims were unchanged between the March and April survey weeks. The economy added 303,000 jobs in March.
Sumber : Reuters
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