U.S. jobless claims drop to 217,000 last week after rising for two weeks

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Initial jobless claims in the United States fell to 217,000 last week, after rising in the previous two weeks amid a slowing economy, the U.S. Labor Department reported on Thursday.

In the week ending Nov. 4, the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits decreased by 3,000 from the previous week's revised level of 220,000, according to a report released by the department's Bureau of Labor Statistics.