WASHINGTON, April 24 - The number of Americans lining up for state unemployment benefits last week rose more than expected to the highest level in more than a year, the government said on Thursday in a report showing further labor market erosion. First-time jobless claims rose by 8,000 to 455,000 for the week ended April 19, the Labor Department said. It was the highest level since the week ended March 30, 2002, and the tenth straight week that claims held above the key 400,000 point, seen by economists as signaling an unhealthy labor market. "The claims figure is pretty disappointing," said Cary Leahey, senior U.S. economist at Deutsche Bank Securities in New York. "You had an increase in new claimants. This is a weak figure." The numbers were far worse than the fall to 425,000 economists polled by expected. A Labor Department official said there was nothing specific behind the rise in claims. The dollar showed little initial reaction but then edged up on a surprise rise in March durable goods orders.
The four week-moving average for claims -- considered a more reliable measure because it irons out weekly fluctuations -- increased to 439,250, up 13,250 from the previous week. That was the highest level in a year. The number of workers continuing on state unemployment benefits jumped 42,000 to 3.6 million for the week ended April 12, the latest week the data is available.//