New applications for unemployment benefits in the United States increased more sharply than expected in the week ending May 9, according to figures published Thursday by the U.S. Labor Department.
Initial jobless claims rose to 211,000, up 12,000 from the previous week’s revised total of 199,000.
Economists had projected claims would increase to 205,000, compared with the originally reported 200,000 from the prior week.
The Labor Department also said the four-week moving average, which helps smooth weekly volatility, edged higher to 203,750. That marked an increase of 750 from the previous week’s revised average of 203,000.