U.S. Jobless Claims Rose Last Week

Initial claims, a proxy for layoffs across the U.S., increased by 8,000, but remained at a low level

Sarah Chaney and

Sharon Nunn

Dec. 20, 2018 8:34 a.m. ET

WASHINGTON—The number of Americans filing applications for new unemployment benefits rose last week, but remained at a low level indicative of a tight labor market.

Initial jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs across the U.S., increased by 8,000 to a seasonally adjusted 214,000 in the week ended Dec. 15, the Labor Department said Thursday.

Economists...