The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits rose less than expected last week, suggesting a further tightening in labor market conditions. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 234,000 for the week ended Aug. 19. The four-week moving average of claims — a better measure of labor market trends as it irons out week-to-week volatility — fell to 237,750 last week, the lowest level since May. The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits rose less than expected last week, suggesting a further tightening in labor market conditions. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 234,000 for the week ended Aug. 19, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Data for the prior week was unrevised. Claims have now been below 300,000, a threshold associated with a robust labor market, for 129 consecutive weeks. That is the longest such stretch since 1970, when the labor mar...
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