Weekly U.S. jobless claims surprise to the downside again

The U.S. jobs market appeared to tighten a bit over the preceding week, hitting a two-month low in the process.

According to the Department of Labor, unemployment claims for the week ending on 15 July fell by 9,000 to reach 228,000.

Economists had forecast a rise to 244,000.

The four-week moving average for initial claims, which aimed to smooth out the data from one week to the next, dropped by 9,250 to 246,750.

Secondary unemployment claims, which are those not being filed for the first time and referencing the week that finished on 8 July, increased modestly, by 33,000 to 1.754m.

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