New jobless claims rise more than expected

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of newly laid-off workers filing first-time claims for jobless benefits rose last week, the government said today, though the increase was mostly due to seasonal distortions.

The number of people remaining on the jobless benefit rolls, meanwhile, fell to 6.2 million from 6.25 million, the lowest level since mid-April.

The Labor Department said new claims for unemployment aid increased by 25,000 to a seasonally adjusted 584,000. That’s above analysts’ estimates of 570,000.

A department analyst said the increase comes after claims were artificially depressed earlier this month by the timing of temporary auto factory shutdowns, which happened earlier this year than in most years.

Still, this week’s total is below the 617,000 initial claims reported in late June before the seasonal distortions began. It reflects a trend that economists say indicates a slowing pace of layoffs.