The median expectation among economists polled by Reuters was for 260,000 new claims.
Meanwhile, orders for those who continue to receive benefits beyond the first week fell to 1.759 million in the week ended June 10, from a revised 1.772 million the previous week. The latest reading was compared with economists’ median estimate of 1.782 million so-called continuing claims.
The government also reported that the US current account deficit – the broadest measure of the flow of goods, services and investment into and out of the country – rose modestly in the first three months of 2023, breaking three quarters down. .
The Commerce Department said the current account gap widened to $219.3 billion in the first quarter, from a revised $216.2 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022. Economists polled by Reuters had estimated it would widen to $217.5 billion.
