In the US, new applications for unemployment benefits in the week ending February 27 stood at 320, higher than both analysts' expectations of 295 and the figure recorded the previous week (313). There average of the last four weeks – based on data from the US Department of Labor – settled at 304.750 units, an increase of 10.250 units from the week before.
The total number of people claiming unemployment benefits therefore stands at 2,421 million, higher than the expected 2,400 million. The average over the past four weeks stood at 2,403 million, up 3.750 units from the week before.
