US initial jobless claims jump 21,000 to 4-week high

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - The number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims soared by 21,000 last week to 248,000, according to Labor Department data released Thursday.

This is the highest level in four weeks, after claims stood at 237,000 in mid-June.

The latest figure was higher than estimates of 230,000, while the previous week's level was unrevised at 227,000.

The four-week moving average was 231,000, an increase of 2,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 228,250.

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