Initial Jobless Claims Remain Below 300,000

Washington, DC, Feb. 5, 2015 -- Initial claims for unemployment benefits rose less than expected last week.

Initial claims rose 11,000 to a seasonally adjusted 278,000 for the week ended Jan. 31, according to the Labor Department.

Economists had expected claims to rise to 290,000 last week.

The four-week moving average of claims fell 6,500 to 292,750 last week.