Larger-than-expected decline in jobless claims

Economists expected an average of 215,000 jobless claims during the week to May 21.

Registrations for the week of May 14 have not been reviewed. The four-week moving average stands at 206,750 against 199,500 (revised) the previous week. The number of people regularly receiving benefits rose to 1.346 million during the week to May 14 (last week for which these figures are available) 1.315 million the previous week.

(Written by Claude Chendjou, edited by Bertrand Boucey)

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