Bloomberg (12/12/13) Victoria Stilwell
Applications for U.S. unemployment benefits rose by 68,000 to a two-month high of 368,000 in the week ended Dec. 7, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had predicted a rise to 320,000 claims. The four-week moving average of claims increased to 328,750 from 322,750 the week prior.