USA: Initial jobless claims rise less than expected

WASHINGTON - In the U.S., the number of weekly initial claims for unemployment benefits rose less than expected. Their number increased by 2000 to 216,000, as the Labor Department announced Thursday in Washington. Analysts had expected an increase in aid applications to 222 000.

U.S. economy grows more than expected in summer

WASHINGTON - The U.S. economy grew slightly faster in the summer than previously reported. Gross domestic product (GDP) grew by an annualized 3.2 percent in the third quarter, according to a third estimate released Thursday by the Commerce Department in Washington. Previously, a growth of 2.9 percent had been determined. Experts had expected on average a confirmation. In the first half of the year, economic output had still shrunk.

USA: Leading indicators fall for the ninth month in a row

WASHINGTON - The economic outlook in the USA deteriorated more than expected in November. The composite index of leading economic indicators fell 1.0 percent from the previous month, the Conference Board, a private research institute, said Thursday in Washington. It is already the ninth decline in a row. Analysts had expected on average a setback of only 0.5 percent. In October, they had fallen by a revised 0.9 percent (initially minus 0.8 percent).

ROUNDUP: Turkey raises minimum wage significantly again in view of inflation

ANKARA - Turkey has raised its monthly minimum wage by around 55 percent in the face of strong inflation. It rises to about 8500 Turkish liras net (about 428 euros), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Thursday in Ankara. It is the third increase within a year. Normally, the minimum wage, on which about 40 percent of the workforce relies, according to official figures, is adjusted only once a year.

Selenskyj met with Poland's President Duda

WARSAW - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj has met with Poland's President Andrzej Duda on his return trip from the United States. Selenskyj shared a video on his Telegram channel Thursday showing him meeting with Duda. Discussed were "strategic plans for the future, bilateral relations and cooperation at the international level in 2023," he wrote. Further, Selenskyj thanked Duda, whom he called "a friend of Ukraine," for his "constant and powerful support."

ROUNDUP: Residential real estate cheaper than in previous quarter for first time in years

WIESBADEN - A turnaround in the market for residential real estate: for the first time in around eight years, prices for apartments and houses have fallen compared with a previous quarter. In the period from July to September, they were on average 0.4 percent cheaper than in the second quarter of this year, as reported by the Federal Statistical Office on Thursday. According to the report, the last decline compared to a previous quarter was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2014. The subdued demand was also noticeable in a year-on-year comparison. Prices rose at a significantly slower rate. Times are getting tougher for the construction and real estate industries after years of boom.

Study: Up to 20 percent of employees work on holidays

DÜSSELDORF - Millions of people also have to work on Christmas, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Depending on the day and time, between 8 and 20 percent of all employed people will be "on duty" on the coming holidays, according to a study presented on Thursday by the Economic and Social Science Institute (WSI) of the Hans Böckler Foundation, which is close to the trade unions. The proportion of those affected is particularly high in the hospitality industry, trade, transport and logistics, and health and social services.

ECB Vice President de Guindos reaffirms intention to raise interest rates

PARIS - The Vice President of the European Central Bank (ECB), Luis de Guindos, has reiterated the central bank's intention for further significant interest rate hikes. The Spaniard told French daily Le Monde on Thursday that hikes of 0.5 percentage points are likely to become the standard pace for now. That pace would likely be maintained for some time, he added. The steps taken so far have had an impact on inflation, but more needs to be done, de Guindos explained.

Slight recovery in construction in Germany

WIESBADEN - In Germany's main construction sector, new orders recovered slightly in October. Compared with September, the value of orders was 7.3 percent higher, the Federal Statistical Office reported Thursday. Seasonal and calendar effects were excluded, as were price developments. Compared to the same month last year, however, real incoming orders fell by 12.9 percent.

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ROUNDUP: You are reading a summary in the economic overview. There are several reports on this topic on the dpa-AFX news service.

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