The US Department of Labor announced weekly data on applications for unemployment benefits. Accordingly, the number of people claiming unemployment benefits for the first time in the country decreased by 18 thousand people to 202 thousand in the week ending December 30 compared to the previous week.
Applications for unemployment benefits, which were below market expectations and recorded the lowest level since October last year, were expected to be 216 thousand.
The previous week's data on jobless claims was revised from 218 thousand to 220 thousand.
As of last week, the 4-week average number of applications for unemployment benefits decreased by 4 thousand 750 compared to the previous week and fell to 207 thousand 750.
The number of ongoing applications for unemployment benefits decreased by 31 thousand people to 1 million 855 thousand in the week ending December 23.
Analysts stated that the decline in jobless claims showed that the labor market in the US maintained its tightness and provided the US Federal Reserve (Fed) with space to maintain its "hawkish" stance in monetary policy for a while longer.
