Americans filing for unemployment benefits increased in number last week, but remained below levels consistent with a tightening labour market south of the border.
Figures released Thursday by the U.S. Labor Department revealed that initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 10,000 to a seasonally-adjusted 272,000 for the week ended Feb. 20.
Economists had forecast claims rising to 270,000 in the latest week. It was the 51st week that claims remained below the 300,000 threshold, signaling a strong labour market - the longest spell since the early 1970s.
The four-week moving average of claims, considered a better measure of labour market trends as it smoothes out week-to-week volatility, fell 1,250 to 272,000 last week.
