US Jobless Claims Rise Slightly, Near Highest Since November

Applications for US unemployment insurance rose slightly and held near the highest level since November, indicating continued easing in the labor market.

Initial unemployment claims increased by 6,000 to 260,000 in the week ended July 30, Labor Department data showed Thursday. The figure matched the median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists.

Continuing claims for state benefits climbed to 1.42 million in the week ended July 23, the highest since early April.

Jobless claims have been rising in the past few months as several companies -- largely in the tech sector -- announce layoffs and slow hiring amid ...