WASHINGTON – Initial claims for U.S. state unemployment benefits fell 3,000 to 258,000 in the March 25 week, compared with expectations for a 250,000 level.
There were no special factors, but claims from Hawaii and Louisiana were estimated.
The four-week moving average for initial claims rose by 7,750 to 254,250 in the March 25 week, as the decades-low level of 227,000 in the February 25 week rolled out of the calculation. The moving average would rise further with next week's data if the headline figure holds steady.
Continuing claims jumped 65,000 to 2.052 million in the March 18 employment survey week after a rare dip below 2 million in the previous week. The level of continuing claims was still down 5,000 from the 2.057 million level in the February 18 employment survey week, a positive for payrolls.
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