WASHINGTON — Initial jobless claims increased more than economists expected to 479,000 for the week ending July 31, the Labor Department reported Thursday.
It was the highest level of new unemployment filings since April. Continuing claims fell to 4.537 million for the week ending July 24.
Economists had expected 453,000 initial claims and 4.540 million continuing claims, according to the median estimate from Thomson Reuters.
Initial claims for the week ending July 24 were revised upward to 460,000 from 457,000.
Continuing claims for the week ending July 17 were revised to 4.571 million from the 4.565 million reported last week.
The four-week moving average for initial claims increased to 458,500, the highest level in a month, from the previous 453,250 figure. The four-week average for continuing claims increased to 4,575,500 from 4,549,750.
Through the first seven months of 2010, initial claims have ranged from a high of 490,000 set Jan. 30 to a low of 427,000 reached July 10.
