U.S. initial jobless claims fell last week, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

The number of first-time applications for unemployment benefits fell 12,000 to 545,000.

The number of first-time applications for unemployment benefits fell 12,000 to 545,000. The number of first-time applications for unemployment benefits fell 12,000 to 545,000. (Don Ryan/Associated Press)

Many economists did not expect a drop and the data is being taken as another possible sign that the American economy is pulling out of recession.

Recent retail sales and manufacturing prices data have also suggested a U.S. recovery is coming.

Challenging that view is the fact that the same report shows the total number of Americans collecting unemployment insurance rose during the week ending Sept. 12, and is now 6.23 million. That was higher than the government had forecast.

The timing of the Labor Day holiday might have reduced hours at offices handling claims, reducing the number processed, a Labor Department analyst said.