WASHINGTON: The number of Americans filing claims for unemployment benefits fell last week, suggesting labor market conditions remained stable, though employers are cautious about hiring new workers as the conflict in the Middle East casts a shadow over the economy.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 11,000 to a seasonally adjusted 207,000 for the week ended April 11, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 215,000 claims for the latest week.
