New claims for US unemployment benefits rose more than expected last week, after two weeks of sharp declines linked largely to seasonal layoffs, according to US government data.
Initial jobless claims surged more than 8% to a seasonally-adjusted 464,000 in the week ending 17 July.
The increase was bigger than the average analyst forecast of 445,000.
It was the first time this year that new claims had not fallen more than two weeks in a row.
Government officials have said that the most recent drop was due, in part, to a decline in temporary layoffs. General Motors and other automakers have eschewed their normal summer shutdowns.
