Weekly US jobless claims dip again

Unemployment claims in the US dipped unexpectedly during the previous week.

According to the US Department of Labor, in seasonally adjusted terms first time jobless claims fell by 7,000 over the week ending on 10 August to reach 227,000.

Economists had forecast a slight rise to 235,000.

The prior week's figure was revised up by 1,000 to 234,000.

The four-week moving average, which aims to smooth out the fluctuations in the data from one week to the next, fell by 4,500 to 236,500.

Secondary unemployment claims, which are those not being filed for the first time and referencing the week that ended on 3 August, dipped by 7,000 to 1.864m.

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