File photo: VCG

NEW YORK, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. stocks opened lower on Thursday as investors digested major economic data.

Shortly after the opening bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased 15.36 points, or 0.06 percent, to 27,768.23. The S&P 500 lost 3.54 points, or 0.11 percent, to 3,090.50. The Nasdaq Composite Index decreased 20.76 points, or 0.24 percent, to 8,461.34.

On the economic front, in the week ending Nov. 9, weekly jobless claims reached 225,000 last week, an increase of 14,000 from previous week's unrevised level, the U.S. Labor Department said on Thursday.