U.S. Jobless Claims Rise To 235K, Most In Nearly 6 Months

Applications for unemployment benefits for the week ending July 2 rose by 4,000 from the previous week, according to the Labor Department.

More Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, and while layoffs remain low, it was the fifth consecutive week that claims topped the 230,000 mark and the most in almost six months.

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Applications for jobless aid for the week ending July 2 rose to 235,000, up 4,000 from the previous week and the most since mid-January, the Labor Department reported Thursday. First-time applications generally track with the number of layoffs. Until early June, claims hadn't eclipsed 220,000 since January and have often been below 200,000 this year.