Initial jobless claims rose fell by 7,000 to 213,000 in the week ended February 8, the Labor Department said Thursday.
Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had estimated new claims would fall by 4,000 to 215,000.
Claims were at 213,000 in the first week of last year.
A sturdy consumer is keeping the labor market strong, economists said.
Last week claims rose a revised 12,000 to 220,000. That compared with the initial estimate of a increase of 11,000 to 219,000.
Disclaimer: Investing carries risk. This is not financial advice. The above content should not be regarded as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation on acquiring or disposing of any financial products, any associated discussions, comments, or posts by author or other users should not be considered as such either. It is solely for general information purpose only, which does not consider your own investment objectives, financial situations or needs. TTM assumes no responsibility or warranty for the accuracy and completeness of the information, investors should do their own research and may seek professional advice before investing.