The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits dropped by 5,000 to 256,000 the week that ended July 23, above market expectations of 253,000.

Continued unemployment benefits fell by 25,000 to 1,359,000 the week of July 16, less than the expected figure of 1,380,000.

Largest increases in unemployment benefits on the date happened in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Georgia, South Carolina and California.

However, the notable decreases were in New York, Ohio, Kentucky, and New Jersey.

The Labor Department reported that the US unemployment rate stood at 3.6% in June for the fourth month in a row.

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