WASHINGTON — Initial claims for state unemployment benefits in the August 15 week rose by 15,000 to 576,000, above analysts' expectations, according to data released by the Labor Department Thursday.
In the Aug. 8 week, continuing claims rose slightly by 2,000 to 6.241 million, and continuing claims were 3.406 million in the comparable week a year ago.
A Market News International survey had expected the initial claims level to fall to 550,000 in the week ended Aug. 15 from the originally reported 558,000 in the August 8 week.
The expectations ranged from 545,000 to 559,000.
Initial claims for the Aug. 8 week were revised up by 3,000 to 561,000.
