(MENAFN- Baystreet.ca) Another alarm bell was sounded south of the border early Thursday morning, with a stunning jump in filings for unemployment benefits.
Figures released by the U.S. Department of Labor revealed the number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits increased by the most in 19 months last week, but the underlying trend continued to point to labor market strength.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits jumped 37,000 to a seasonally adjusted 230,000 for the week ended April 20, the department said on Thursday, the largest since early September 2017. Claims dropped to 193,000 in the week prior, which was the lowest level since September 1969.
Economists had forecast claims rising to only 200,000 in the latest week. The department said no states were estimated last week. Claims tend to be volatile around this time of the year because of the different timings of Easter and Passover holidays, as well as spring breaks.
Despite the volatility, labour market strength remains intact stateside. The four-week moving average of initial claims, considered a better measure of labour market trends as it irons out week-to-week volatility, rose 4,500 to 206,000 last week.
Job gains averaged 180,000 in the first quarter, well above the roughly 100,000 jobs per month needed to keep up with growth in the working-age population. The strong U.S. labour market is helping to support an economy which is slowing as last year's fiscal stimulus fades.
MENAFN2504201902120000ID1098438688
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.