Initial jobless claims unexpectedly drop

Initial jobless claims unexpectedly dropped.

Claims, which count the number of people who applied for unemployment insurance for the first time, fell by 4,000 to 232,000.

Economists forecast claims rose by 4,000 to 240,000 from the prior week’s 236,000.

Initial jobless claims are used as a real-time proxy for the pace of layoffs since people usually file for benefits soon after they lose their jobs.

The four-week moving average came in at 240,750, a drop of 2,750 from the previous week’s unrevised average of 243,500.

More from Elena Holodny:

• The Trump administration formally launched NAFTA renegotiations — here’s what you need to know
• Brazilian markets are getting rocked amid another growing political scandal
• Initial jobless claims unexpectedly drop
• The US dollar has officially given up all its post-election gains
• The dollar has erased nearly all its post-election gains

NOW WATCH: Yale history professor: Trump’s path to tyranny is unfolding

NOW WATCH: Money & Markets videos

Follow Business Insider Australia on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.