The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits increased slightly last week, suggesting the labor market remained stable in March, though the outlook is darkening amid rising trade tensions and deep cuts in government spending.

New applications for unemployment benefits filed by federal employees fell last week, although they remained elevated compared with last year.

K to 223K vs. 224K consensus and 221K prior (revised from 220K), according to data released by the U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday. The four-week moving average was 227,000, an increase of 750 from the prior week's 226,