US jobless claims jump to 7-month high

New claims for US unemployment insurance benefits jumped to a seven-month high last week, the Labor Department reported Thursday.      Initial jobless claims rose by 10,000 to 293,000 in the week ending January 16, the highest level since early July. But claims, a sign of the pace of layoffs, have remained below 300,000 since late February 2015 as the jobs market tightens.

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Jobless claims rise sharply during holiday week

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits rose sharply last week, a potential signal the job market was losing steam although some of the increase might be attributed to temporary holiday factors.   Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 20,000 to a seasonally adjusted 287,000 for the week ended Dec.26, the U.S. Labor Department said on Thursday.

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