Jobless Claims Jump, Hurricane Sandy Blamed

WASHINGTON -- The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits surged last week to a 1 1/2-year high, a sign superstorm Sandy had dented the U.S. economy by leaving tens of thousands of people out of work.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 78,000 to a seasonally adjusted 439,000, the Labor Department said on Thursday. That was well above the median forecast in a Reuters poll of 375,000.