The number of seasonally adjusted initial jobless claims in the United States declined by 2,000 from last week's revised figure to 215,000 in the week ending July 4, the US Department of Labor revealed in its report on Thursday. The figure came in lower than analysts anticipated, while the four-week moving average decreased by 3,750 from the previous week's revised average to reach 218,750. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate for the week ending June 27 stood at 1.2%, unchanged from the week before. Meanwhile, the insured unemployed figure for the same week stood at 1,814,000, rising by 8,000 ... (full story)

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits dipped slightly last week as layoffs in the U.S. remain historically low. U.S. applications for jobless aid in the week ending July 4 ticked down by 2,000 to 215,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet forecast 220,000 new applications. Weekly filings for unemployment benefits are considered a proxy for layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the U.S. job market. In its more comprehensive June jobs report last week, the government reported that employers pulled back on hiring June, adding ... (full story)

In the week ending July 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 215,000, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 215,000 to 217,000. The 4-week moving average was 218,750, a decrease of 3,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 222,000 to 222,500. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.2 percent for the week ending June 27, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured ... (full story)