US jobless claim applications tick up after falling to near-decade low

US jobless claim application rose slightly in the week ending May 2nd, returning to around 200,000, but remaining at a historically low level.

While expectations were for 205,000 claims, the previous week's figure was revised upward by 1,000 to 190,000, according to data released Thursday by the Labor Department.

This relatively small increase follows a drop the previous week to its lowest level in decades, suggesting that layoffs remain limited, despite announcements of job cuts by companies such as Meta and Nike.

Markets are now awaiting the release of the non-farm payrolls report tomorrow, with expectations that the US economy added 67,000 jobs in April, following a gain of 178,000 in the previous month.