U.S. Jobless Claims Remained Near Pandemic Low Last Week

Jobless claims rose slightly last week but remained near a pandemic low, as layoffs stabilize amid an economic slowdown tied to rising coronavirus cases.

Initial unemployment claims rose to 332,000 last week from a pandemic low of 312,000 a week earlier, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The four-week moving average for claims, which smooths out weekly volatility, fell to 335,750, the lowest level since March 2020.

More broadly, claims have trended lower since mid-July, a sign employers are holding on to workers even though the Delta variant of Covid-19 has contributed to...