The number of US workers filing new jobless claims last week rose unexpectedly by 6,000, the government said today.
Initial claims for state unemployment insurance benefits climbed to a seasonally adjusted 327,000 in the week ended December 3rd from an upwardly revised 321,000 the previous week, the Labor Department said.
A department analyst said that historically, claims tend to rise in the week following the holiday-shortened Thanksgiving week. The number of new claims was above Wall Street forecasts for 317,000 and the original reading of 320,000 for the week ended November 26th but US Treasuries showed little reaction to the unexpected rise.
A four-week moving average of new claims, which smooths weekly volatility to provide a better picture of labour market trends, fell for the second straight week, dropping to 322,500 from 322,750 the prior week.