(Bloomberg) -- U.S. filings for unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest in almost five decades, indicating a tight job market, Labor Department figures showed Thursday.
Highlights of Jobless Claims (Week Ended Sept. 1) |
|
Key Takeaways
Thursday's figures, coming before the main jobs report is released Friday, show employment continued to improve in late August. Jobless-claims figures can be more volatile around holidays, such as the U.S. Labor Day observed on Monday.
Even so, the figures add to signs businesses are keeping existing staff and adding new workers to help meet demand being boosted by tax cuts in the 10th year of the economic expansion.
Other Details- Prior week's reading was unrevised at 213,000
- Unemployment rate among people eligible for benefits was unchanged at 1.2 percent
- California, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Puerto Rico and Virginia had estimated claims last week, the Labor Department said
--With assistance from Chris Middleton and Sophie Caronello.
To contact the reporter on this story: Jeff Kearns in Washington at jkearns3@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Scott Lanman at slanman@bloomberg.net
©2018 Bloomberg L.P.
Essential Business Intelligence, Continuous LIVE TV, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
