US initial jobless claims down 4,000 last week

By Mucahithan Avcioglu

ISTANBUL (AA) - The number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims was down by 4,000 last week to 217,000, according to Labor Department data released on Thursday.

The figure came below market forecasts of 227,000 and was down from the previous week's unrevised level of 221,000.

This marked the sixth consecutive decline, with the claims at their lowest level since April 12.

The four-week moving average was 224,500—a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week's unrevised average of 229,500.

In June, the US economy added 147,000 jobs, higher than forecasts of 111,000.

The unemployment rate fell to 4.1% in June from 4.2% in May, below market estimates.