Weekly Jobless Claims Unexpectedly Rise in Latest Week

By Lucia Mutikani

WASHINGTON -- The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week, but the underlying trend suggested no shift in labor market conditions.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 14,000 to a seasonally adjusted 348,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. Claims for the prior week were revised to show 2,000 fewer applications received than previously reported.