Last week, the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits for the first time increased by 13 thousand and reached 231 thousand, according to a report by the US Department of Labor. This is the highest figure in almost three months. According to the revised data, a week earlier this figure was 218 thousand, instead of the previously announced 217 thousand. Analysts on average expected an increase to 220 thousand, based on previous data. The average number of applications for benefits over the past four weeks (a more stable indicator) increased to 220.25 thousand, from a revised 212.5 thousand in the previous week. The number of people who continue to receive unemployment benefits for the week ended November 4 increased to 1.865 million, compared with a revised 1.833 million a week earlier. This indicator has been increasing for the eighth week in a row and is at the highest level in the last two years. The average forecast of experts assumed an increase in this number to 1.847 million.
