Jobs
Applications for US Jobless Benefits Barely Rose Last Week
- Initial claims increased 4,000 to 232,000, matching estimate
- Four-week moving average fell to lowest level in a month
Attendees at a career fair at a community college in Bolivia, North Carolina.
Photographer: Allison Joyce/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Applications for US unemployment benefits barely rose last week, indicating the labor market is moderating only gradually.
Initial claims increased by 4,000 to 232,000 in the week ended Aug. 17, according to Labor Department data released Thursday. The four-week moving average, which smooths out some of the volatility, fell to the lowest in a month.