US initial jobless claims fall by 3,000

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - The number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims fell by 3,000 last week to 217,000, according to Labor Department data released Thursday.

The figure came in slightly higher than market estimates of 215,000, while the previous week's reading was revised up by 3,000 from 217,000 to 220,000.

The four-week moving average was 212,250, an increase of 1,500 from the previous week's revised average.

The US economy added 150,000 jobs in October, while the unemployment rate rose to 3.9%, from 3.8% in September.