The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, offering fresh evidence that the labour market was gathering steam.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 21,000 to a seasonally adjusted 283,000 for the week ended Feb. 14, the U.S. Labor Department said on Thursday.
The prior week's data was unrevised. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast claims falling to 293,000 last week.
A shortened work week due to Monday's Presidents Day holiday could also have contributed to the unexpectedly bigger decline in claims. Still, the underlying trend continues to point to a strengthening labour market.
The four-week moving average of claims, considered a better measure of labour market trends as it irons out week-to-week volatility, fell 6,500 to 283,250 last week.
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