ANKARA
New demands for unemployment benefits in the U.S. dropped to 264,000 from 265,000 in the previous week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Thursday.
The analyst consensus had been for a rise to 273,000.
The four-week average of claims fell to 279,500, the lowest level since May 6, 2000.
The Federal Reserve has said that improving employment data would influence an eventual decision to raise interest rates.
