Initial jobless claims in the U.S unexpectedly rose 12,000 to 465,000, the U.S. Labor Department announced Thursday. However, continuing claims fell another 48,000 to 4.49 million, and the less-volatile four-week moving average decreased 3,250 to 463,250.
The latest figure was worse than most economists' expectations of 450,000 new claims.
Twenty three percent of the increase were attributed to layoffs in the in construction, manufacturing, agriculture and service sectors in Florida, the Labor Department said.
A year ago, initial jobless claims totaled 538,000, the four-week moving average was 552,250 and continuing claims totaled 6.07 million.
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