By Ovunc Kutlu
ANKARA (AA) - The number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims last week fell by 1,000 to 217,000, according to US Labor Department figures released Thursday.
The figure was expected to come in at 220,000.
The previous week's number was revised up by 1,000 to 218,000.
The four-week moving average was 218,750, a decline of 500 from the previous week's revised average.
The US economy generated 263,000 jobs in September, while the unemployment rate stood at 3.5%.