Washington: The number of Americans filing for first-time unemployment claims increased by 1,000 last week, reaching a total of 200,000, as reported by the US Labor Department on Thursday.

According to Anadolu Agency, market analysts had anticipated the figure to rise to 209,000 from the previous week's revised total of 199,000. Instead, the increase was less than expected, reflecting stability in the job market.

The report also highlighted that the four-week moving average, a metric used to smooth out fluctuations in the data, reached its lowest level since January 2024. The average currently stands at 201,500, showing a decrease of 3,759 from the previous week's 205,250.

Additionally, the unemployment rate showed a decline, dropping to 4.4% in December from 4.5% in November, a figure that surpassed market expectations. This indicates continued improvement in the employment landscape in the United States.