The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week, but the trend remained consistent with solid labour market momentum that could keep the Federal Reserve on track to raise interest rates this year.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 277,000 for the week ended Aug. 15, the U.S. Labor Department said on Thursday.
It was the fourth-straight week jobless claims rose, which hasn't happened since August 2010.
Claims for the prior week were revised to show 1,000 fewer applications received than previously reported. Economists had forecast claims slipping to 272,000 last week. A department analyst said there were no special factors influencing the data and no states had been estimated.
Prices for U.S. Treasurys fell slightly after the data, while stock index futures were pointing to a lower open on Wall Street. The dollar dipped against a basket of currencies.
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