The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the US rose by 4,000 to a three-month high of 229,000 in the first week of June, firmly above market expectations of a decrease to 219,000. Meanwhile, continuing claims, which are seen as a gauge of outstanding unemployment in the US, rose to 24,000 to 1,795,000, slightly above expectations of 1,780,000. While marking a momentary departure from the low figures from early May, the data continued to reflect a relatively strong labor market in historical standards, extending the period of a low-firing labor backdrop. Meanwhile, initial claims filed by federal employees, which have been under scrutiny due the administration's efforts in decreasing the number of public workers, rose by 89 to 553.