Applications for U.S. unemployment insurance last week rose slightly to a level last seen in January, suggesting that labor-market conditions are moderating.
Initial unemployment claims increased by 4,000 to 235,000 in the week ended July 2, Labor Department data showed Thursday. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for 230,000 applications.
Continuing claims for state benefits rose to 1.38 million in the week ended June 25.