Initial Jobless Claims Up Last Week

Washington, DC, April 8, 2010--Initial jobless claims rose 18,000 to a seasonally adjusted 460,000 in the week ended April 3, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

Economists had expected a result of 442,000.

The four-week average of initial claims rose 2,250 to 450,250. For the week ended March 27, continuing claims fell 131,000 to 4.55 million.

The four-week average of ongoing claims declined 36,000 to 4.65 million, the lowest level since January 2009.

A Labor Department official said interpretation of the data was made more difficult by the Easter holiday.