Initial claims for US unem-ployment benefits fell last week but still remained high amid the deepening recession, according to government data.

The Labour Department reported 639,000 new jobless claims were filed in the week ending February 28. The number was below analysts' consensus forecast of 650,000 and marked a 4.6 per cent decline from the previous week's 670,000, revised higher by 3,000 claims.

The data showed initial claims for jobless benefits remained above 600,000 for the fifth consecutive week.

A four-week rolling average, considered a more reliable indicator of labour trends, showed initial jobless claims edged up 0.3 per cent to 641,750, the highest number since late October 1982.

The insured unemployment rate held steady at 3.8 per cent during the week ending February 21 from the prior week. Also for the week ending February 21, the overall number of workers collecting unemployment benefits was 5.106 million, slightly below the 5.120 million of the prior week.

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