Initial Jobless Claims Rise by 30,000 for Week

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he number of U.S. workers filing initial unemployment benefits rose by 30,000 to 335,000 last week, the Labor Department said Wednesday.

The gain in claims for the week ended Nov. 19 was greater than the 312,000 economists had expected, Bloomberg reported.

The four-week moving average of claims, a less volatile measure, rose to 323,250 from 322,000 a week earlier, Labor said.

The number of people filing continuing jobless claims rose to 2.824 million for the previous week ended Nov. 12, from 2.765 million a week earlier, Labor said.

The report was issued a day earlier than customary because government offices are closed Nov. 24 for the Thanksgiving holiday.

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