US initial jobless claims last week fell by 3,000 to a nine-month low, the US Department of Labor reported today. Claims fell to a total of 183,000 from the previous week’s unrevised level.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 200,000 claims for the latest week. Claims have been running low this year, consistent with a persistently tight labor market, Reuters reported.
Meanwhile, the four-week moving average fell by 5,750 in the week ended Jan. 28 to 191,750.