US Initial Jobless Claims Rise to Highest Level Since October

US Economy: Jobless Claims Rise, Trade Deficit Narrows

Applications for US unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week to the highest since October, adding to signs that the job market is cooling.

Initial claims increased by 8,000 to 247,000 in the week ended May 31, a period that included Memorial Day. The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for 235,000 applications.