WASHINGTON — More Americans filed claims for unemployment insurance payments last week as holiday closures prevented five states from completing a full count.
Applications for jobless benefits increased 10,000 to 354,000 in the week ended May 25, Labor Department figures showed Thursday in Washington. Economists called for 340,000 claims, according to the median forecast in a Bloomberg survey. Two states, Virginia and Wyoming, provided their own estimates last week, and the Labor Department issued projections for Hawaii, Minnesota and Oregon, a government spokesman said.
Dismissals have been waning as employers hold on to workers to meet sales, helping to pave the way for a pickup in hiring once companies see demand accelerate. Faster gains in employment may cushion against an increase in the payroll tax and help household sustain spending.
“This week we had a bit of a pop, but we still are seeing a gradual improvement in the labor market,” said Bricklin Dwy- er, an economist at BNP Paribas in New York. “The problem hasn’t really been from firing — it’s been on the other side with a lack of hiring.”
Government offices were closed Monday for the Memorial Day holiday, which shortened the amount of time they had to process applications.
