US initial jobless claims rise by 2,000

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - The number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims rose 2,000 last week to 230,000, according to Labor Department data released Thursday.

The figure came in slightly higher than market estimates of 227,000, while the previous week's reading was revised up by 1,000 from 227,000 to 228,000.

The four-week moving average was 230,750, an increase of 500 from the previous week's revised average.

The US economy added 142,000 jobs in August, while the unemployment rate fell to 4.2% from 4.3% in July.