Sterling tilted lower in American trade off December 10 highs for the third straight session, following earlier data from the US today.
As of 05:08 GMT, GBP/USD barely inched down to 1.2632, with an intraday low at 1.2616, and a high at 1.2675.
Earlier US data showed unemployment claims fell a thousand in the week ending December 22 to a total of 216 thousand, while continuing claims dropped 4 thousand in the week ending December 15 to 1.701 million.
An index tracking US housing prices rose 0.3% as expected in November, accelerating from 0.2% in October.
US President Donald Trump said in earlier remarks that the government shutdown will carry through until a funding deal for his border wall is achieved, setting for a potentially long battle with Democrats.