Expectations were for 229,000 new claims (Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Washington, 18 Jul - The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits for the first time in the week ended July 13 rose by 20,000 from the previous week's revised figure to a seasonally adjusted figure of 243,000, the US Labor Department said.

Expectations were for 229,000 new weekly claims. The four-week moving average, a more reliable indicator, showed claims were up 1,000 from the previous week's revised average to 234,750.

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(RADIOCOR) 18-07-24 14:38:41 (0430) 5 NNNN