The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week, but the trend continued to point to a strengthening labor market.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 5,000 to 274,000 the Labor Department said on Thursday.
Claims for the prior week were revised to show 1,000 fewer applications received than previously reported.
Though claims have risen for three straight weeks, they have remained below the 300,000 threshold, which is associated with a firming jobs markets, for 23 consecutive weeks.
Economists had forecast claims to be unchanged at 270,000 last week. Non farm payrolls increased by a solid 215,000 jobs in July and the unemployment rate held at a seven-year low of 5.3 percent - near the 5.0% to 5.2% range that most Federal Reserve officials think is consistent with a steady but low level of inflation.