Initial U.S. jobless claims fell by 19,000 to 238,000 in the last week of April, according to figures released Thursday by the U.S. Labor Department.
Economists expected new claims to total a seasonally-adjusted 245,000 in the seven days stretching from April 23 to April 29.
The more stable monthly average of jobless claims rose by 750 to 243,000 -- considered a more reliable index as it smooths out week-to-week volatility.
Claims have now been below 300,000, a threshold associated with a healthy labour market, for 113 straight weeks. That is the longest such stretch since 1970, when the labour market was smaller. The labor market is close to full employment, with the unemployment rate at a near 10-year low of 4.5%
Meantime, the number of so-called continuing claims that count people already receiving jobless benefits declined by 23,000 to a 17-year low of 1.96 million, pointing to a tightening labour market that could encourage the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates next month.
The Employment Situation for the U.S. is due out Friday morning for the month of April.
