WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of newly laid off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits shot up by the largest amount since early February, a far bigger increase than had been expected.
The Labor Department reported Thursday that applications for jobless benefits hit 337,000 last week, an increase of 28,000 from the previous week. That was the biggest one-week surge since jobless claims jumped 42,000 the week of Feb. 10.
The increase was four times larger than the gain of 6,000 that economists had been expecting and could be a sign that the labor market is starting to weaken under the impact of a severe downturn in housing and the credit crisis that jolted financial markets in August.
The 337,000 total claims for the week was the highest level since a similar number of claims were filed on Aug. 25. Government analysts said that part of last week's big rise probably reflected trouble in adjusting the numbers for normal seasonal changes at the start of a new quarter, a time when claims often spike.
The four-week average for claims edged up to 316,500, the highest level in four weeks.
For the week ending Oct. 6, 45 states and territories saw claims increase while eight reported declines.
Analysts have been expecting jobless claims to start posting increases, reflecting the economic blows that have occurred from the steepest housing slump in 16 years and a severe credit crunch.