Encouraging US employment data: still decreasing subsidies

New applications for unemployment benefit fell in the United States, confirming the improvement in the labor market stars and stripes thanks to the acceleration of economic growth.

In the week to May 21, the "claims" have fallen by 10.000 units to 268.000, while analysts' estimates were for a decrease of up to 275 thousand units. Now te records is 63 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 stabilized at 278.500 units, an increase of 2.750 units compared to 275.750 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 14, the ongoing subsidy applications were up 10.000 units to 2.163.000. The average of the past four weeks stood at 2.151.000 units, an increase of 8.500 units compared to the previous week.