Initial Jobless Claims Rise for Week

Initial jobless claims increased last week to the highest level since October, the Labor Department said Thursday.

The 35,000 increase to 445,000 was above the median forecast by analysts of 410,000 new claims, Bloomberg reported.

The four-week moving average, a less volatile measure, grew to 416,500.

Continuing claims for the previous week ended Jan. 1 increased by 128,000 from a week earlier to 4.64 million, Bloomberg said. That figure does not include those receiving extended unemployment benefits.