US jobless claims fall for 6th straight week
US Labor Department data released Thursday showed initial jobless claims fell by 4,000 to 217,000 in the week ending July 19, down from the prior week's unadjusted reading of 221,000.
Economists had expected an increase of 6,000 claims to 227,000.
The four-week moving average, considered a more reliable gauge of labor market trends, also fell by 5,000 to 224,500, compared to the previous week's average of 229,500.
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