357,000 new claims filed last week, rising for second consecutive week to highest level since Sept.
December 9, 2004: 8:36 AM EST
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing initial claims for jobless pay grew unexpectedly last week to 357,000, a government report showed Thursday, but an official said an increase in the week after a public holiday was typical.
Analysts polled by Briefing.com had forecast first-time claims for state unemployment benefits would fall to 335,000 in the week ended Dec. 4 from 349,000 the previous week, which had been shortened by Thanksgiving Day.
But rising claims for two consecutive weeks has returned them to the highest level since late September, the Labor Department said.
The four-week moving average of filings, which smoothes weekly fluctuations to provide a better picture of underlying trends, advanced 4,750 to 341,250, also marking its second straight weekly increase.
Thursday's release comes after some disappointing employment news. Only 112,000 new jobs were created in November -- much less than expected -- and U.S. firms reported a rise in the number of planned job cuts last month.
The number of unemployed on the benefit rolls after claiming an initial week of aid grew 91,000 to 2.796 million in the week ended Nov. 27, the latest for which figures are available.
O Clubeinvest.com informa que nenhuma da informação
aqui facultada deverá ser entendida como conselho ou recomendação
de qualquer tipo de transacção ou investimento.
