Jobless Claims in U.S. Increased Less Than Forecast Last Week

  • New filings for unemployment benefits rise by 3,000 to 267,000
  • Initial applications have been below 300,000 since March

Job seekers in Dallas, Texas.

Photographer: Laura Buckman/Bloomberg
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Fewer Americans than forecast filed applications for unemployment benefits last week, a sign that a steady labor market will bolster U.S. growth.

Jobless claims rose by 3,000 to 267,000 in the week ended Sept. 19, a report from the Labor Department showed on Thursday. The median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for 272,000. The four-week moving average, a less-volatile measure of job cuts, dropped to the lowest level in more than a month.