Usa: unemployment benefits fall, pending home sales increase

The US Department of Labor said today that new jobless claims fell to 23 last week, a decline of 398.000 from the revised figure to 24.000 last week (422.000 last week). ). The data marks an improvement compared to the expectations of analysts who had predicted 418 units and represents the lowest level reached in the last four months, ie since the beginning of April. The four-week average came in at 412.000, down 413.750 from the previous week's revised figure of 8.500. Positive signals also with regard to pending home sales: the pending home sales index recorded an increase of 422.250% to 2,4 from 90,9% in the month. The figure, disclosed by the Association of Real Estate Operators, is significantly higher than the market estimates which forecast a drop of 88,8%. Sales also show 2% year-on-year growth.