US Initial Jobless Claims at 198,000... Exceed Expectations

The number of weekly unemployment benefit claims in the United States increased compared to the previous week.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

The U.S. Department of Labor announced on the 30th (local time) that the number of new unemployment benefit claims last week (March 19-25) was recorded at 198,000. This is an increase of 7,000 claims from the previous week and also exceeds the market forecast of 195,000 claims.

However, it remained below 200,000 for the third consecutive week, maintaining a historically low level.

The number of continuing unemployment benefit claims, which are filed for at least two weeks, increased by 4,000 to 1,689,000. This is below the FactSet estimate of 1,693,500 claims.