Reuters/Jason Reed
Economists are expecting claims to rise to 275,000, up from the previous week's 271,000.
"The 4-week average was 272,500, still close to the lowest level in several decades," HSBC noted.
"The gradual improvement in the trend of continuing claims remains encouraging, which is an indication that the ability of previously displaced workers to find new jobs is improving. And even though this report will have no bearing on next week's payrolls report, the constructive trend in claims in recent weeks suggests that the positive labor market trend is continuing," TD Securities US macro & rates strategist Cheng Chen noted last week.