(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Milano, 21 mag - The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits for the first time in the week ended May 16 fell by 3,000 from the previous week's revised figure to a seasonally adjusted figure of 209,000, the US Labor Department said.

Expectations were for 210,000 new weekly claims.

The four-week moving average, a more reliable indicator, showed claims were down 1,500 from the previous week's.

revised average to 202,500.

(RADIOCOR) 21-05-26 14:40:18 (0567) 5 NNNN