Weekly U.S. jobless claims rise to 414,000

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http://www.marketwatch.com/story/weekly-us-jobless-claims-rise-to-414000-2011-09-08?dist=beforebell

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — Applications for unemployment compensation rose slightly last week, indicating little change in a weak U.S. jobs market in which net hiring remains near a standstill.

Jobless claims rose to 414,000 from 412,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch forecast claims to rise to a seasonally adjusted 411,000 in the week ended Sept. 3.

Initial claims from two weeks ago were revised up from an original reading of 409,000.

A government official said last week’s hurricane in the Northeast appeared to have little effect on claims. Yet the Labor Day holiday did result in paperwork delays at four states – California, Virginia, Washington, DC and Hawaii – whose numbers had to be estimated.

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