Positive signs for US jobs: claims downhill

Still positive signs for the labor market in US, which saw yet to score a slowdown in jobless claim.

In the week to June 4, the "claims" showed a descent of 4,000 to 264,000, compared with 268,000 the previous week's revised (267,000 the first reading). Analyst estimates were for a climb up to 270 thousand units. With this it is 66 weeks of consecutive requests to below 300,000, the longest streak since 1973.

The average of the last four weeks, according to data of the US Department of Labor, has settled at 269,500 units, down 7,500 units compared to 277,000 the previous week. The average to four weeks is considered a more accurate indicator of labor market health because it smoothes out the strong weekly fluctuations observed.

Finally, in the week to May 28, the benefit of continuing claims fell 77,000 to 2.095 million units. The average of the past four weeks stood at 2,145,500 units, down 17,500 units from the previous week.