Unemployment claims shot up by 78,000 filings for the week ending Nov. 10, reversing periods of steady drops.
The Labor Department said 439,000 jobless claims were filed last week, up from 361,000 a week earlier and the first time claims have risen above the 400,000-mark in months.
The four-week moving average hit 383,750, an increase of 11,000 claims from the previous week’s revised average of 372,000.
The total number of citizens claiming jobless benefits for the week ending Oct. 27 hit 4.97 million.