U.S. Jobless Claims Hover Near Lowest Level in Four Decades

Jobless claims last week hovered around four-decade lows, showing the labor market remains the strongest part of the U.S. economy.

Initial applications for unemployment benefits climbed by 9,000 to 257,000 in the week ended April 23, a report from the Labor Department showed Thursday in Washington. The prior week’s revised 248,000 claims were the fewest since 1973.