US initial jobless claims up by 27,000 to 263,000

The number of seasonally adjusted initial jobless claims in the United States in the week ending September 5 rose by 27,000 compared to the previous seven-day period to 263,000, the Department of Labor said in its report published on Thursday. The figure came in widely higher than expected. The four-week moving average increased by 9,750 from the previous week's unrevised average to 240,500.