US initial jobless claims down 16,000 last week

ISTANBUL

The number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims fell by 16,000 last week to 199,000, according to the US Labor Department data released Wednesday.

Markets' expectation was at 219,000 for the week.

The four-week moving average was 218,750 – up 1,750 from the previous week.

The number of continuing unemployment benefit claims fell to 1.866 million, down 47,000.

The unemployment rate was up to 4.6% in November, the highest in about four years, from 4.4% in September, above expectations.