Jobless Claims Increase for Week

Initial jobless claims rose by 24,000 last week, in part due to the volatility around the Easter holiday, the Labor Department said Thursday.

Claims rose to 484,000 for the week ended Saturday, Labor said.

Economists had forecast claims would fall to 440,000 from a previously estimated 460,000.

The four-week moving average, a less volatile measure, rose to 457,750, from 450,250 the previous week.

Continuing claims for the previous week ended April 3 grew by 73,000 to 4.64 million, though that figure does not include those receiving extended unemployment benefits.