US initial jobless claims edge down to 194,000 last week

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell by 1,000 to 194,000 last week, the Labor Department said on Thursday.

The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 194,000 to 195,000.

The four-week moving average slipped by 1,250 to 196,750 from the previous week's upwardly revised average of 198,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate stood at 1.1% for the week ending Oct. 17, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised rate.

Insured unemployment, representing continuing claims, fell by 21,000 to 1.7 million during the week ending Oct. 17.

The four-week moving average for insured unemployment edged up by 500 to 1.71 million.

Gökhan Ergöçün