Jobless Claims Climb Back Over 400,000
The number of U.S. workers filing new applications for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week, an indication that the jobs market remains shaky amid a slow recovery.</br></br>Separately, spending on construction projects in the U.S. climbed a third straight time in October, yet remained below year-ago levels as the persistently weak economy weighs down builders.</br></br>Initial jobless claims climbed by 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 402,000 in the week ended Nov. 26, the highest level in more than a month, the Labor Department said Thursday.</br></br>Economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires had forecast claims would fall by 3,000 to 390,000.</br></br>For the week ended Nov. 19, claims were revised to 396,000 from an originally reported 393,000. Claims are now up two weeks in a row.