The number of Americans applying increased new claims for unemployment benefits less than expected last week, in a sign of the continued improvement in the labor market.

The US Department of Labor on Thursday that new orders rose 11 thousand asked to rate the level in the light of the seasonal factors amounted to 278 thousand in the week ending January 31 January.

The data do not affect the significant decline in the previous week's pay requests to the lowest level since 2000.

Economists expected a rise in applications to 290 thousand last week.

The average of applications in four weeks, which provides a more accurate picture of the labor market in 6500 asked last week to 292 thousand and 750 Talbl.