*U.S. CLAIMS FOUR-WEEK AVERAGE DROPS TO LOWEST SINCE JUNE 2007
*THREE OTHER U.S. REGIONS SAW JUNE INCREASE IN HOUSING STARTS
*RECORD 29.6% DROP IN SOUTH HELD BACK U.S. HOUSING STARTS
*HOUSING STARTS IN U.S. FELL 9.3% IN JUNE TO 893,000 RATE
*U.S. INITIAL JOBLESS CLAIMS FELL 3,000 LAST WEEK TO 302,000
*U.S. INITIAL JOBLESS CLAIMS FELL 3,000 LAST WEEK TO 302,000
*HOUSING STARTS IN U.S. FELL 9.3% IN JUNE TO 893,000 RATE