Jobless Claims Up Second Straight Week

Washington, DC, Dec. 19, 2013 — Initial claims for unemployment benefits last week rose to the highest level in nearly nine months, according to the Labor Department.

Initial claims rose 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 379,000, the Labor Department said. That was the highest level since March.

Economists expected first-time applications to fall to 334,000 last week.

The claims data is difficult to adjust for seasonal fluctuations around the  holidays.