The number of people applying for unemployment benefits in the United States rose unexpectedly last week due to the weather of the hurricane disaster, but it is still close to a 49-year low. Judging from this figure, there is no doubt that the US labor market remains strong.

First-time claims for unemployment benefits rose by 7000 in the week ended Oct. 6, to a seasonally adjusted total of 214000, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters had predicted that the number of applicants in the latest week would fall to 206000 from 207000 last week. The Labor Department says claims in South and North Carolina were affected by the hurricane that hit Florence in mid-September.

The number of people applying for unemployment benefits for the first time in the United States is on a downward trend.

Last week, the four-week moving average of first-time claims rose by 2,500 to 209500, which is seen as a better measure of labour market trends because it is less affected by volatility.

It is now widely believed that the U. S. labor force is close to full employment, which many economists believe will help accelerate wage growth and increase the likelihood that the Fed will raise interest rates in December. The Fed has raised interest rates three times this year, with the fourth expected in December.

Thursday's application report also showed that the number of continued claims increased by 4,000 to 1.66 million in the week ended Sept. 29. The four-week moving average of continuing claims fell by 10, 000 to 1.66 million, the lowest level since August 1973.

Before today's session, Trump said in a live broadcast on Fox News that the Fed was too radical, it was a little too smart, and they were making big mistakes. So is the Fed being smart, or is Trump too "witty"?

(editor / Wu Dongxia)