US jobless claims fell to their lowest level this year last week

The US Department of Labor said today that jobless claims in the United States fell by 18,000 to a seasonally adjusted 215,000 for the week ending February 26, the lowest level since January 1 and the second weekly decline in a row. Analysts had expected that the US jobless claims would record 225 thousand applications last week, and the unadjusted jobless claims fell by 21285 to 194.693 applications last week.

Continuing jobless claims rose by 2,000 to 1.476 million during the week ending February 19, and outsourced hiring firm Challenger Gray & Christmas said 15,245 workers were laid off in February, down 20% from January.