Jobless claims rise to new 8-month high

The number of Americans who signed up for unemployment benefits rose last week to the highest level since November, though the U.S. job market continues to show signs of strength.

Applications for jobless aid climbed by 14,000 to 262,000 and have now risen five out of the last six weeks, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The four-week average for claims, which smooths out weekly ups and downs, rose to 252,000, also the highest since November.

The number of Americans collecting traditional unemployment benefits increased to 1.43 million in the last week of July — the highest number since early April.