Jobless Claims Rise 8,000 for Week

Initial jobless claims rose by 8,000 last week to 331,000, the Labor Department said Thursday.

The less-volatile four-week moving average also rose, to 324,750 from 317,000 the previous week, Labor said.

Economists had forecast weekly claims to be between 310,000 and 330,000, Bloomberg reported.

The number of people continuing to collect benefits rose to 2.53 million for the previous week ended Oct. 13, from 2.523 million the previous week.