US initial jobless claims rise by 9,000

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - The number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims rose by 9,000 last week to 225,000, according to Labor Department figures released on Thursday.

The figure came in line with the market estimates, while the previous week's figure was unrevised at 216,000.

The four-week moving average was 221,000, a decrease of 250 from the previous week's revised four-week average.

The US economy added 263,000 jobs in November, exceeding expectations of a 200,000 gain, while the unemployment rate remained steady at 3.7%, according to the agency.