New applications for U.S. unemployment benefits increased more than economists anticipated in the week ending April 4, according to data released Thursday by the Labor Department.
Initial jobless claims rose to 219,000, up by 16,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 203,000.
Economists had projected claims would reach 210,000, compared with the earlier reported level of 202,000 for the prior week.
The Labor Department also reported that the four-week moving average, which helps smooth out weekly volatility, ticked up to 209,500. This represents an increase of 1,500 from the previous week’s revised average of 208,000.