The number of people south of the border filing for unemployment benefits rose last week, but remained below a level associated with a healthy labour market.
The U.S. Labor Department released figures Thursday showing initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 10,000 to a seasonally-adjusted 268,000 for the week ended June 25.
Claims for the prior week were revised to show 1,000 fewer applications received than previously reported.
Economists polled had forecast initial claims rising to 267,000 in the latest week. Claims have now been below 300,000, a threshold associated with a strong labour market, for 69 consecutive weeks, the longest streak since 1973.
The four-week moving average of claims, considered a better measure of labour market trends, ironing out week-to-week volatility, was unchanged at 266,750 last week.
A department analyst said there were no special factors influencing last week's claims data and only claims for Georgia had been estimated.
