The US economy shrank at an annualised rate of 5.5% in the first three months of 2009, better than previously thought, government figures show. Gross domestic product (GDP) had been previously estimated at a 5.7% decline.

The fall in GDP now seems to be easing, after shrinking at an annualised pace of 6.3% in the previous quarter. But concern about the fragility of the economy was revived by data showing the number of jobless claims unexpectedly rose last week.

The Labor Department said the number of people filing first-time claims for jobless benefits increased by 15,000 to a seasonally adjusted 627,000. Economists had expected about 600,000 claims.

They had also predicted that the Commerce Department’s final estimate of US GDP would remain unchanged.