The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week and non-farm productivity contracted more sharply than previously thought in the fourth quarter.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased by 7,000 to a seasonally-adjusted 320,000 for the week ended Feb. 28, the U.S. Labor Department said on Thursday.
Economists polled by Reuters had expected claims to fall to 295,000 last week.
The four-week moving average for claims, which evens out weekly volatility, rose by 10,250 to 304,750 last week.
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