(Bloomberg) -- Filings for U.S. unemployment benefits fell to a
two-month low last week, suggesting the labor market remains
healthy in data reflecting revisions going back to 2014.
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Jobless claims declined 5,000 to 211,000 in the week ended March
23, below economist forecasts, Labor Department figures showed
Thursday. The four-week average, a less-volatile measure,
declined to 217,250.
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Key Insights
- Declining claims indicate companies remain in a tight spot finding workers and keeping them, with levels of filings remaining near historic lows.
- In addition, the annual revisions to seasonal adjustment factors, released Thursday, showed filings were lower than previously reported since late January.
- The lowest reading over the past year is now 208,000 for the week ended Sept. 8.
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- Continuing claims, which are reported with a one-week lag, rose by 13,000 to 1.76 million in the week ended March 16.
- The unemployment rate among people eligible for benefits was unchanged at 1.2 percent.
- The previous week’s claims were revised down to 216,000 from 221,000.
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