The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits came in higher than expected last week.
Figures released Thursday by the Labor Department show initial claims for the week ended April 1 fell to 228,000 from the upwardly revised 246,000 recorded a week earlier. That is above the 2019 pre-pandemic average of 218,000 claims.
Continuing claims, filed by Americans who are consecutively receiving unemployment benefits, rose slightly to 1.68 million for the week ended March 18, an increase of 4,000 from the previous week. One year ago, nearly 1.9 million Americans were collecting unemployment benefits.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.