BUSINESS BRIEF
Unemployment benefit applications up 10,000
12/20/2013WASHINGTON — The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits rose 10,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 379,000, the highest since March.
The increase may reflect volatility around the Thanksgiving holidays.
The Labor Department said Thursday that the less volatile four-week average jumped 13,250 to 343,250, the second straight increase.