Bloomberg (08/23/12) Michelle Jamrisko; Shobhana Chandra
Applications for U.S. jobless benefits rose by 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 372,000 in the week ended Aug. 18, the U.S. Department of Labor reported today. The median forecast of 41 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for 365,000. Initial claims from two weeks ago were revised up to 368,000 from an original reading of 366,000, based on more complete data collected at the state level. The average of new claims over the past month, meanwhile, climbed by 3,750 to 368,000.