The number of Americans applying for jobless benefits inched up last week but remains low by historical standards, according to the Associated Press.
Unemployment claims rose by 5,000 to 217,000 for the week ending Oct. 28, the Labor Department reported today. The four-week moving average of claims, which quiets some of the week-to-week ups and downs, ticked up by 2,000 to 210,000.
Overall, 1.82 million people were collecting unemployment benefits the week that ended Oct. 21, about 35,000 more than the previous week.
