People carrying resumes speak with potential employers at a job fair on Sept. 13, 2016, in Hartford, Connecticut.

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits rose less than expected last week, pointing to a further tightening in labor market conditions.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits edged up 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 260,000 for the week ended Sept. 10, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Claims for the prior week were unrevised.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast first-time applications for jobless benefits rising to 265,000 in the latest week.

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It was the 80th straight week that claims remained below the 300,000 threshold, which is associated with robust labor market conditions. That is the longest stretch since 1970, when the labor market was much smaller.