Number of Americans Filing for Unemployment Benefits Fall

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, creatiung expectations the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates next week.

“Layoffs on the part of corporations are few and far between as good help is hard to find this far along in one of the longest economic expansions in the record books,” said Chris Rupkey, chief economist at MUFG in New York.

Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey

Seasonally Adjusted

Labor force status:          Unemployment rate

Series title:                      (Seas) Unemployment Rate, 16 years and over.