US initial jobless claims increased by 6,000 last week

ISTANBUL

The number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims increased by 6,000 last week to 223,000, according to Labor Department data released on Thursday.

The figure was higher than the market forecast of 221,000 and up from the previous week's unrevised level of 217,000.

The four-week moving average was 213,500—a raise of 750 from the previous week's 212,750.

The US economy added 256,000 jobs in December, following a downwardly revised 212,000 in November.