Investing.com - The number of people who filed for unemployment assistance in the U.S. last week rose more-than-expected, while the previous week’s figure was revised higher, official data showed on Thursday.
In a report, the U.S. Department of Labor said the number of individuals filing for initial jobless benefits in the week ending September 8 rose by 15,000 to a seasonally adjusted 382,000, compared to expectations for an increase of 3,000 to 370,000.
The previous week’s figure was revised up to 367,000 from a previously reported 365,000.
Jobless claims have remained below 400,000, a level historically associated with an improving labor market, in 44 of the past 46 weeks, though lately claims have been pushing higher from the 350,000 associated with above-average job growth.
Continuing jobless claims in the week ended September 1 fell to 3.283 million from a revised 3.332 million. Analysts had expected continuing claims to decline to 3.318 million.
The four-week moving average was 375,000, an increase of 3,250 from the previous week's revised average of 371,750.
The monthly average is seen as a more accurate gauge of labor trends because it reduces volatility in the week-to-week data.
Following the release of the data, the U.S. dollar remained lower against the euro, with EUR/USD adding 0.07% to trade at 1.2908.
Meanwhile, U.S. stock index futures held on to losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a loss of 0.2% at the open, S&P 500 futures indicated a decline of 0.2%, while the Nasdaq 100 futures signaled a 0.25% drop.
In a report, the U.S. Department of Labor said the number of individuals filing for initial jobless benefits in the week ending September 8 rose by 15,000 to a seasonally adjusted 382,000, compared to expectations for an increase of 3,000 to 370,000.
The previous week’s figure was revised up to 367,000 from a previously reported 365,000.
Jobless claims have remained below 400,000, a level historically associated with an improving labor market, in 44 of the past 46 weeks, though lately claims have been pushing higher from the 350,000 associated with above-average job growth.
Continuing jobless claims in the week ended September 1 fell to 3.283 million from a revised 3.332 million. Analysts had expected continuing claims to decline to 3.318 million.
The four-week moving average was 375,000, an increase of 3,250 from the previous week's revised average of 371,750.
The monthly average is seen as a more accurate gauge of labor trends because it reduces volatility in the week-to-week data.
Following the release of the data, the U.S. dollar remained lower against the euro, with EUR/USD adding 0.07% to trade at 1.2908.
Meanwhile, U.S. stock index futures held on to losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a loss of 0.2% at the open, S&P 500 futures indicated a decline of 0.2%, while the Nasdaq 100 futures signaled a 0.25% drop.