Continuing Jobless Claims Hit Record

Initial jobless claims rose 8,000 last week to 652,000, while the number of people receiving continuing benefits rose to a record, the Labor Department said Thursday.

The number of Americans collecting jobless benefits jumped 122,000 to a record 5.56 million in the previous week ended March 14, Labor said.

The four-week moving average, a less volatile measure, dipped last week to 649,000, from 650,000 the previous week.