US initial jobless claims up by 9,000, above forecasts

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) – The number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims increased by 9,000 last week to 224,000, according to Labor Department data released on Thursday.

The figure was higher than the market forecast of 215,000 and up from the previous week's revised level of 215,000.

The four-week moving average was 218.250 – a raise of 750 from the previous week's revised level of 217,500.

In October, the unemployment rate remained at 4.1%, unchanged from the three-month low reached the previous month.