Although the number of people applying for unemployment benefits for the first time in the USA increased to 205 thousand in the week ending December 16, it was below market expectations.

The US Department of Labor announced weekly data on unemployment benefits applications. Accordingly, the number of people applying for unemployment benefits for the first time in the country increased by 2 thousand people in the week ending December 16 compared to the previous week, reaching 205 thousand. Unemployment claims, which were below market expectations and remained close to the lowest level in 2 months, were expected to be 214 thousand.

The previous week’s data on unemployment benefit applications was revised from 202 thousand to 203 thousand. As of last week, the 4-week average number of unemployment benefit applications decreased by 1500 compared to the previous week, falling to 212 thousand. The number of ongoing unemployment benefit applications decreased by 1000 people in the week ending December 9, decreasing to 1 million 865 thousand.