U.S. initial claims for unemployment benefits edged down by 1,000 in the week ending Jan. 27, after rebounding strongly in the previous week from a 45-year low, the U.S. Labor Department said.
First-time claims totaled 230,000 for the week, down from the previous week's revised level of 231,000 and below Econoday's consensus estimate of 235,000. The four-week moving average decreased by 5,000 to 234,500 from the previous week's revised average of 239,500.
The department said claims-taking procedures continue to be disrupted in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate remained unchanged at 1.4% for the week ended Jan. 20 from the previous week. Insured unemployment rose by 13,000 to 1,953,000 from the previous week's level, which was revised up to 1,940,000.
