The initial claims have been below 300 thousand for 106 straight weeks, the longest streak since 1970.
The number of people continuing to receive jobless benefits fell by 30,000 to 2.03 million in the week ended March 4th, the fewest since the period ended Dec. 3rd.
The unemployment rate among people eligible for benefits held at 1.5 percent. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment was 2,030,000, a decrease of 30,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up 2,000 from 2,058,000 to 2,060,000. The 4-week moving average was 2,054,250, a decrease of 11,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 500 from 2,065,500 to 2,066,000.