Unemployment claims in the United States have increased slightly, but remain very low

WASHINGTON (AP) — Slightly more Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week as the job market remains one of the healthiest parts of an uneven U.S. economy.

Unemployment claims for the week ending Oct. 22 rose by 3,000 to 217,000 from 214,000 the previous week, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

The four-week moving average rose to 219,000 from 212,250 the previous week.

Jobless claims, seen as an indicator of layoffs, remained historically low even as the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark borrowing rate in a bid to cool the economy and tame inflation.

The total number of Americans receiving unemployment benefits rose by 55,000 to 1.44 million for the week ending October 15, its highest level in seven months.

Matt Ott, The Associated Press

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