First claims for unemployment insurance rose higher last week as a sign of ongoing struggles for the job market.
The number of new claims was 861,000, the highest level in a month and higher than the Dow Jones estimate of 773,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday.
Markets moved little on the news, with stocks about to open lower on Wall Street.
However, the total for the week ended February 13 was only a slight increase from the 848,000 a week ago. That number was revised from the initially reported 793,000.
The lingering claims fell again, falling to just under 4.5 million, down from 64,000. That data is a week behind the total of the first claims.
The total of benefit claimants has decreased and decreased by 1.3 million to 18.34 million.
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