Applications for U.S. unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell to a seven-month low last week. This is revealed by the latest data from the US Department of Labor, quoted by DPA, BTA reported.

Applications in the week ended September 16 fell by 20,000 to 201,000, compared with revised slightly upward figures for the previous week, when 221,000 applications were submitted.

Economists had expected U.S. unemployment claims to rise to 225,000 last week, up from an initial reported 220,000 in the previous week ended Sept. 9.

Applications for unemployment benefits fell to their lowest level since reaching 199,000 in the week ended Jan. 28.

Earlier this month, the White House reported that U.S. employers created 187,000 new jobs in August, another sign of the strength of the labor market. Although the U.S. unemployment rate reached 3.8 percent, it is still relatively low.

The number of Americans receiving traditional unemployment benefits declined by 21,000 in the week ended Sept. 9 to about 1.66 million.

U.S. Unemployment Claims Remain High for Second Week in a Row