Initial jobless claims in US decrease by 10,000

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - The number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims fell by 10,000 last week to 235,000, according to Labor Department data released Thursday.

The figure came in slightly less than estimates of 237,000. The previous week's reading was revised up by 2,000 from 243,000 to 245,000.

The four-week moving average was 235,500, an increase of 250 from the previous week's revised average.

The US economy added 206,000 jobs in June, while the unemployment rate rose from 4% to 4.1% in May.