Washington: The number of Americans filing for initial unemployment benefits decreased by 13,000 last week, reaching a total of 224,000, as per the latest data released by the US Labor Department on Thursday.

According to Anadolu Agency, this figure aligns with forecasts and shows a decline from the previous week's revised total of 237,000. The four-week moving average, which provides a broader view of the trend, increased slightly to 217,500, up by 500 from the prior week's revised average of 217,000.

In contrast, the continuing claims for unemployment benefits saw an increase, rising to 1.897 million from the previous week's 1.83 million. This development occurs amidst broader labor market changes, with the US economy adding 64,000 jobs in November, following a significant loss of 105,000 jobs in October.

The unemployment rate has risen to 4.6% in November, marking the highest level in approximately four years, compared to 4.4% in September, and surpassing expectations.