The data from the Labor Department revealed on Thursday the number of
applications for unemployment decreased more than forecast last week.
According to the report, the initial claims for unemployment benefits fell
by 8,000 to 210,000 for the week ended May 21.
Economists had forecast 215,000 new claims last week.
Claims for the prior week were left unrevised at 218,000.
Meanwhile, the four-week moving average of jobless claims increased to 206,750
from an unrevised 199,500 in the previous week. This was the
highest count since the week
ended February 12 (209,000).
As for continuing claims, they rose to 1,346,000 from a downwardly revised
1,315,000 (from 1,317,000) in the previous week. This was the highest total in
three weeks.