Jobless Benefits Claims Rise Last Week

Washington, DC, April 12, 2012 -- Initial applications for unemployment benefits rose to the highest level in two in a half months, according to the Labor Department.

Weekly jobless claims jumped by 13,000 to 380,000 in the week ended April 7, the highest level since late January.

Much of the increase was related to spring break, when many school bus drivers and cafeteria workers around the country are allowed to file claims in their states.

Claims from two weeks ago were revised up by 10,000 to 367,000.

Economists had projected claims would total a seasonally adjusted 359,000 last week.