Washington: The number of Americans filing for first-time unemployment claims decreased by 5,000 to a total of 245,000 last week, as reported by Labor Department data released on Wednesday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the latest figure slightly surpassed market expectations, which had predicted 246,000 claims, and marked a decline from the prior week's level that was adjusted upward to 250,000. The four-week moving average, a measure to smooth out volatility in the data, rose to 245,500, showing an increase of 4,750 from the previous week's adjusted level of 240,750.

The Labor Department noted that this is the highest level for the moving average since August 19, 2023, when it registered at 246,000. Meanwhile, the US economy showed signs of strength by adding 139,000 jobs in May, surpassing forecasts of 126,000. The unemployment rate remained steady at 4.2% in May, consistent with April's figures and aligning with predictions.