Jobless claims support a slowing in the US payroll growth in March

March US employment report is scheduled for release on Friday, April 3

Initial jobless claims, which were approximately 10k higher in the March survey week than in Feb, and the diffusion index, which showed a modest narrowing in the breadth of job gains across sectors earlier this year support a slowing in the payroll growth in March.

Decline in those employed part-time for economic reasons has moderated somewhat. This suggests that job growth should be returning to a more sustainable trend in the coming months.

Barclays Capital said - "We look for nonfarm payrolls to rise 250k, private payrolls to increase 245k, and public sector payrolls to edge 5k higher. We expect the unemployment rate to hold steady at 5.5%, average weekly hours to remain unchanged at 34.6, and average hourly earnings to rise 0.1% m/m."