Investing.com - The number of people who filed for unemployment assistance in the U.S. rose more-than-expected last week, 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 February 16 rose by 20,000 to a seasonally adjusted 362,000, compared to expectations for an increase of 13,000 to 355,000.
Jobless claims for the preceding week were revised up to 342,000 from a previously reported gain of 341,000.
Continuing jobless claims in the week ended February 9 rose to 3.148 million. Analysts had expected continuing claims to rise to 3.170 million from last week’s revised figure of 3.137 million.
The four-week moving average was 360,750, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's revised average of 352,750.
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 higher against the euro, with EUR/USD shedding 0.7% to trade at 1.3191.
Meanwhile, U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures indicated a loss of 0.2% at the open, S&P 500 futures declined 0.25%, while the Nasdaq 100 futures signaled a drop of 0.35% at the open.
In a report, the U.S. Department of Labor said the number of individuals filing for initial jobless benefits in the week ending February 16 rose by 20,000 to a seasonally adjusted 362,000, compared to expectations for an increase of 13,000 to 355,000.
Jobless claims for the preceding week were revised up to 342,000 from a previously reported gain of 341,000.
Continuing jobless claims in the week ended February 9 rose to 3.148 million. Analysts had expected continuing claims to rise to 3.170 million from last week’s revised figure of 3.137 million.
The four-week moving average was 360,750, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's revised average of 352,750.
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 higher against the euro, with EUR/USD shedding 0.7% to trade at 1.3191.
Meanwhile, U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower open. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures indicated a loss of 0.2% at the open, S&P 500 futures declined 0.25%, while the Nasdaq 100 futures signaled a drop of 0.35% at the open.