US initial jobless claims fall 11,000, retreating from 4-week high

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - The number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims fell by 11,000 last week to 239,000, retreating from a four-week high, according to Labor Department data released Thursday.

The figure was slightly lower than estimates of 230,000, while the previous week's number was revised up by 2,000 to 250,000.

The four-week moving average was 234,250, an increase of 2,750 from the previous week's revised average.

The US economy added 187,000 jobs in July, while the unemployment rate fell to 3.5%, from 3.6% in June.