US jobless claims hold near historically low levels

Unemployment claims in the U.S. continued to hold near historically low levels during the latest week.

According to the Department of Labor, in seasonally adjusted terms first time jobless claims dipped by 2,000 to reach 210,000 during the week ending on 16 March.

Economists had penciled-in a rise to 215,000.

The prior week's reading had been revised higher by 3,000 to 212,000.

The four-week moving average, which aims to smooth out the variations in the figures from one week to the next, increased by 2,500 to 211,250.

Secondary unemployment claims, which are those not being filed for the first time and referencing the week that ended on 9 March, edged up by just 4,000 to 1.807m.

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