US weekly jobless claims fall less than expected

The number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits fell less than expected last week, which could raise concerns that the robust labor market was losing some momentum.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits decreased 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 228,000 for the week ended May 4, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Data for the prior week was unrevised.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast claims falling to 220,000 in the latest week. The Labor Department said claims for Indiana were estimated last week. Claims have been volatile in recent weeks because of the different timings of the Easter and Passover holidays as well as school spring breaks.

Still, last week’s smaller-than-expected drop could be pointing to some slowdown in the labor market. The four-week moving average of initial claims, considered a better measure of labor market trends as it irons out week-to-week volatility, increased 7,750 to 220,250 last week.

The economy created 263,000 jobs in April and the unemployment rate dropped to a near 49-1/2-year low of 3.6%, the government reported last week.

Thursday’s claims report showed the number of people receiving benefits after an initial week of aid increased 13,000 to 1.68 million for the week ended April 27. The four-week moving average of the so-called continuing claims fell 8,000 to 1.67 million.