216,000 new unemployment claims...Lowest in 5 months

The U.S. Labor Department said 216,000 new unemployment claims were filed between the 20th and 26th of last week, down 12,000 from a week ago.

The figure, below the 230,000 expert projections compiled by Dow Jones, is the lowest in five months since mid-May.

New U.S. jobless claims have increased significantly since the start of the month due to Hurricane Hurlin and Milton damage and then slowed again.