The number of people filing initial applications for U.S. unemployment benefits rose for a second consecutive week last week but remained at very low levels consistent with a strengthening labor market, the government reported Thursday. The Labor Department said jobless claims increased 3,000 to 287,000 last week. The four-week moving average of claims, which smoothes weekly volatility, fell 250 to 281,000, the lowest level in more than 14 years. The total number of people still receiving unemployment benefits increased 29,000 to 2.38 million last week. Jobless claims are a measure of layoffs and have fallen 20 percent in the past year. At the same time, hiring has accelerated, with employers adding jobs this year at the strongest pace in eight years. Employers have added an average of 227,000 jobs a month this year, up from an average of 194,000 last year. The economy has gained 2.64 million jobs in the past 12 months, the best annual performance since April 2006. The unemployment rate has fallen to 5.9 percent, a six-year low.
