First-time applications for U.S. unemployment benefits rose slightly in the latest week, according to data released Thursday by the Labor Department.
Initial jobless claims increased to 200,000 in the week ended January 17, up by 1,000 from the prior week’s revised figure of 199,000. Economists had been expecting a larger rise, with forecasts centered around 205,000 claims.
At the same time, the less volatile four-week moving average declined to 201,500, down 3,750 from the previous week’s revised average of 205,250, pointing to continued resilience in the U.S. labor market.