Jobless claims fall as US labour market strengthens

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, suggesting the labour market continued to strengthen.

Other data yesterday showed factory activity in the mid-Atlantic region braked sharply in December, but that followed hefty gains in the prior month and analysts said manufacturing remained on solid ground.

“The economy continues to run hard as it finishes out the year,” said Chris Rupkey, chief financial economist at MUFG Union Bank in New York.