Initial Jobless Claims Rise Last Week

Washington, DC, Aug. 14, 2014 -- Initial claims for unemployment benefits rose 21,000 to 311,000 in the week the ended Aug. 9, according to the Labor Department.

Nevetheless, weekly claims remained near pre-recession levels. Economists had expected claims to rise to 300,000

The four-week average rose 2,000 to 295,750, the U.S. Labor Department reported.