The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits rose to a six-month high last week, but remained below a level that is associated with labor market strength.
A Labor Department analyst said there were no special factors influencing last week's data and that no states had been estimated. The four-week moving average of claims, considered a better measure of labor market trends as it irons out week-to-week volatility, increased 6,000 to 263,750 last week.
Last week's claims data covered the survey period for December nonfarm payrolls. The four-week average of claims increased 10,750 between the November and December survey period, suggesting some moderation in job gains.
Nonfarm payrolls increased by 178,000 jobs in November.
The claims report also showed the number of people still receiving benefits after an initial week of aid rose 15,000 to 2.04 million in the week ended Dec. 10. The four-week average of the so-called continuing claims fell 1,750 to 2.04 million.
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