WASHINGTON (AP) " The number of Americans filing unemployment claims last week fell slightly as businesses continue to retain employees despite growing economic uncertainty over U.S. trade policy. Applications for jobless benefits fell by 2,000 to 227,000 for the week ending May 17, the Labor Department said Thursday. That's pretty close to the 230,000 new applications analysts forecast.
Despite showing some signs of weakening during the past year, the labor market remains robust, with plentiful jobs and relatively few layoffs.
Earlier this month, the government reported that U.S. employers added a surprisingly strong 177,000 jobs in April and the unemployment rate held at a historically healthy 4.2%.
Drudge Retort Headlines
US Senator Dragged Out of News Conference (110 comments)
Stephen Miller Demanded ICE Target Home Depots (53 comments)
Photos of Troops Sleeping on a Floor in L.A. Are Real (47 comments)
Weather Could Impact Trump's Multi-Million Dollar Military Parade Saturday (46 comments)
Israel Hits Iran (33 comments)
Poll: 76% of Americans Oppose Trump's Birthday Parade (31 comments)
Video of Woman Wounded in LA (29 comments)
Russia Won't End War Until NATO 'Pulls Out' of Baltics (27 comments)
Mike Huckabee: US No Longer Pursuing Goal of Independent Palestinian State (26 comments)
Marines Authorized to Detain Citizens Protesting in LA (24 comments)