WASHINGTON - Initial jobless claims increased 26,000 to 436,000 in the week ending November 27 and continuing claims increased for the first time in six weeks, the Labor Department reported Thursday.
Continuing claims increased by 53,000 to 4.270 million for the week ending November 20.
Economists expected 428,000 initial claims and 4.230 million continuing claims, according to the median estimate from Thomson Reuters.
Initial claims for the week ending November 20 were revised higher to 410,000 from the 407,000 initially reported. The figure was still the lowest level of initial claims since July 2008. Continuing claims for the week ending Nov. 22 were revised to 4.217 million from 4.182 million.
Last week was shortened by Thursday's Thanksgiving holiday, and many state employment offices were closed on Friday as well, a Labor Department official said. Claims data for Washington State and Alaska were estimated, the official said.
The four-week moving average for initial claims decreased to 431,000, the fourth straight weekly decline. The four-week average for continuing claims dropped to 4.288 million, the ninth straight drop.
Certain unemployment benefits are expiring and could drastically reduce the number of people receiving extended federal or state benefits. There were nearly 5 million people receiving these benefits in the week ending November 13. This number could be cut by about 2 million by the end of December, according to the Labor Department.
