US jobless claims hold steady near 48-year low
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits was unchanged last week, according to data released by the Labor Department on Thursday.
US initial jobless claims held steady near a 48-year low at 211,000, beating expectations for an increase to 218,000.
Meanwhile, the four-week moving average was down 5,500 from the previous week's unrevised average to 216,000, marking the lowest level since December 1969.
The Labor Department said claims-taking procedures in Puerto Rico and in the Virgin Islands have still not returned to normal.
Continuing claims - i.e. the number of people already collecting unemployment benefits - rose to 1.79m, up 30,000 from the previous week's level, which was revised up by 4,000 to 1.76m. Economists had been expecting a jump to 1.78m.
The four-week moving average for continuing claims was 1.81m, down 22,000 from the previous week's level, which was revised up by 1,250. This was the lowest level for the average since December 1973.