The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits fell last week, suggesting a moderation in job growth in August was an aberration.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 275,000 for the week ended Sept. 5, the U.S. Labor Department said on Thursday. It was the 27th straight week that claims remained below the 300,000 threshold, which is usually associated with a strengthening labour market.
Claims for the prior week were revised to show 1,000 fewer applications received than previously reported. Economists had forecast claims falling to 275,000 last week.
A department analyst said there were no special factors influencing the data and only claims for Hawaii had been estimated.
The four-week moving average of claims, considered a better measure of labour market trends as it irons out week-to-week volatility, ticked up 500 to 275,750 last week.
