New jobless claims rise more than expected

WASHINGTON - The government says the number of newly laid-off workers filing first-time claims for jobless benefits rose last week, though the increase was mostly due to seasonal distortions.

The Labor Department says new claims for unemployment insurance increased by 25,000 to a seasonally adjusted 584,000, above analysts' estimates of 570,000.

A department analyst says the increase comes after claims were artificially lowered earlier this month by the timing of auto factory shutdowns, which happened earlier this year than usual.

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