By Tuba Sahin
ANKARA (AA) - The number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims last week reached 251,000, the highest level in eight months, the Labor Department said Thursday.
The figure, above the market forecast of 240,000, increased by 7,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 244,000, data showed.
The four-week moving average was 240,500, a rise of 4,500 from the previous week's revised average of 236,000.
The US economy generated 372,000 jobs in June, while the unemployment rate remained at 3.6%.