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.

US jobless claims filings rose by 2,000 to 223,000 for the week ending March 15, the Labor Department said Thursday. That’s just less than the 224,000 new applications analysts forecast.

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,