WASHINGTON, Sept 17 (Reuters) - The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits unexpectedly fell by 12,000 last week, data on Thursday showed, while there was a rise in the number of those still on the benefit rolls after an initial week of aid.
Initial claims for state unemployment insurance declined to a lower-than-expected seasonally adjusted 545,000 in the week ended Sept 12 from 557,000 the week before, the Labor Department said. It was the lowest reading since early July.
Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast claims to rise to 555,000 last week from a previously reported count of 550,000.
(Reporting by Alister Bull, Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)