The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, pointing to a tightening labour market.
Figures released Thursday morning by the U.S. Labor Department show initial claims for state unemployment benefits slipped 1,000 to a seasonally-adjusted 267,000 for the week ended May 28.
Economists had forecast initial claims rising to 270,000 in the latest week. Claims have now been below 300,000, a threshold associated with a strong job market, for 65 straight weeks, the longest streak since 1973.
The four-week moving average of claims, which experts consider a more reliable measure of labour market trends, smoothing out week-to-week volatility, fell 1,750 to 276,750 last week.
Last week's claims report has no impact on the employment report for May, which is scheduled to be published on Friday, as it falls outside the survey period.
