The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, underscoring the economy's enduring strength.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 9,000 to a seasonally adjusted 280,000 for the week ended Dec. 20, the U.S. Labor Department said on Wednesday. It was the fourth straight week of declines in claims.
The report came a day after the government reported the economy expanded at its fastest pace in 11 years in the third quarter and consumer spending increased solidly in November.
Economists had forecast claims ticking up to 290,000 last week. The prior week's data was unrevised.
The four-week moving average of claims, considered a better measure of labour market trends as it irons out week-to-week volatility, fell 8,500 to 290,250 last week.
The Federal Reserve last week gave the economy a vote of confidence, lowering its unemployment rate forecast and signaling it could start raising interest rates in mid-2015.
