US jobless claims rise 14k, but monthly average hits 15-year low

Claims for unemployment benefits in the States rose by 14,000 last week, though the monthly moving average fell to its lowest level since 2000.

Initial weekly jobless claims totalled 281,000 in the week ended 4 April, from a revised 267,000 the week before, according to the Labor Department on Thursday.

Nevertheless, the jump was not as bad as feared, with the consensus estimate at 283,000.

The previous week's data was revised down by 1,000 to its lowest since April 2000.

Meanwhile, the monthly average, which irons out week-to-week volatility, fell by 3,000 to 282,250, its lowest since June 2000.

Continuing claims, which are those which are not filed for the first time, declined 23,000 to 2.3m in the week ended 28 March - also a 15-year low.