Unemployment claims in Wisconsin increased last week

Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Wisconsin rose last week compared with the week prior, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday.

New jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs, increased to 6,352 in the week ending Dec. 23, up from 5,605 the week before, the Labor Department said.

U.S. unemployment claims rose to 218,000 last week, up 12,000 claims from 206,000 the week prior on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Missouri saw the largest percentage increase in weekly claims, with claims jumping by 136.0%. West Virginia, meanwhile, saw the largest percentage drop in new claims, with claims dropping by 34.4%.

The USA TODAY Network is publishing localized versions of this story on its news sites across the country, generated with data from the U.S. Department of Labor's weekly unemployment insurance claims report.

This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Unemployment claims in Wisconsin increased last week