US jobless claims rise more than expected

The number of initial jobless claims in the US rose in the week ended Feb. 15, but remained close to the level that that sustains stable employment in the world’s largest economy.

The US Labor Department said on Feb. 20, that initial claims increased by 5,000 to 219,000, compared to expectations of a rise to 1,000.

Meanwhile, the four-week moving average of jobless claims, seen as a more accurate gauge of labor market performance, showed a decline of 1,000 to 215,250.