AlHijjah 29, 1435, Oct 23, 2014, SPA -- The number of people filing initial applications for U.S. unemployment benefits rose last week, the government reported Thursday, but the levels of jobless claims remain consistent with an improving job market. The Labor Department said jobless claims increased 17,000 to 283,000 last week, following three consecutive weeks of declines, which had pushed claims to levels last seen in 2000. The four-week moving average of jobless claims—considered a better indicator of labor-market trends because it smoothes weekly volatility—fell to 281,000, the lowest level since May 2000, from 284,000 last week. The total number of people still receiving unemployment benefits fell 38,000 to 2.35 million last week, the lowest level since December 2000, suggesting that some of the long-term unemployed were finding jobs.
