US weekly jobless claims rise moderately

WASHINGTON, Dec 05 (Reuters): The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits increased moderately last week, suggesting that the labor market continued to steadily cool.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 9,000 to a seasonally adjusted 224,000 for the week ended Nov. 30, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 215,000 claims for the latest week.

Claims are at levels consistent with steady job growth, and have signaled a sharp rebound in nonfarm payrolls in November after the labor market was severely distorted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton as well as strikes by factory workers at Boeing and another aerospace company.

Nonfarm payrolls likely increased by 200,000 jobs in November after rising by 12,000 in October, the lowest number since December 2020, a Reuters survey showed.