US jobless claims fell by 15,000 in the week ended March 12 to a total of 214,000, according to seasonally adjusted data released today by the US Department of Labor. Claims were at their lowest level since the week ended Jan. 1.
Yahoo Finance reported initial claims were below 250,000 for the seventh consecutive week and hovered around pre-pandemic levels. Bloomberg had indicated claims were expected to be at 220,000.
Meanwhile, the four-week move average of jobless claims fell by 8,750 in the week ended March 12 to a total of 223,300.