Those Americans filing for unemployment benefits decreased in number to a near 49-year low last week, pointing to sustained labour market strength south of the border, which experts say should continue to underpin economic growth. Figures released Thursday by the U.S. Labor Department showed initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 8,000 to a seasonally adjusted 207,000 for the week ended Sept. 29,
Data for the prior week was revised to show 1,000 more applications received than previously reported. Claims fell to 202,000 during the week ended Sept. 15, which was the lowest level since November 1969.
Economists had forecast claims slipping to 213,000 in the latest week. The Labor Department said claims for South and North Carolina were affected by Hurricane Florence, which lashed the region in mid-September.
The four-week moving average of initial claims, considered a better measure of labour market trends as it irons out week-to-week volatility, rose but 500 to 207,000 last week.
