Initial jobless claims rose by 5,000 last week to a total of 213,000, the US Department of Labor reported today.
However, the previous week’s level was revised downward by 5,000.
Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 218,000 applications for the latest week.
The four-week moving average of claims fell by 6,000 in the week ended Sept. 17 to a level of 216,750. The previous week’s average was revised downward by 1,250.