The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, suggesting the labour market south of the border continued to strengthen despite lukewarm economic growth.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits declined 9,000 to a seasonally-adjusted 267,000 for the week ended April 2, according to figures Thursday from the U.S Labor Department.
Economists forecast claims slipping to 270,000 in the latest week. Jobless claims have now been below 300,000, a threshold associated with healthy labour market conditions, for 57 straight weeks, the longest stretch since 1973.
The American labour market buoyancy appears at odds with slowing economic growth. Recent data on consumer spending, business investment and international trade suggest growth slowed to below a 1% annualized rate in the first quarter after expanding at only 1.4% pace in the fourth quarter.
