Jobless Claims Rise for Week

Initial jobless claims rose by 18,000 last week, in part due to adjustments for the Easter holiday, the Labor Department said Thursday.

Claims rose to 460,000 for the week ended Saturday, Labor said.

Economists’ had forecast claims would fall to 435,000 from a previously estimated 439,000.

The four-week moving average, a less volatile measure, rose to 450,250, from 448,000 the previous week.

Continuing claims for the previous week ended March 27 fell by 131,000 to 4.55 million, though that figure does not include those receiving extended unemployment benefits.