More Americans filed claims for unemployment insurance last week, the second straight weekly rise amid a slow recovery in the jobs market, official data showed on Thursday.
Initial jobless claims rose by 4000 to 372,000 in the week ended August 18, the US Labor Department reported.
The four-week moving average, which reduces week-to-week volatility, rose by 3750 to 368,000.
Three years after a severe recession, the world's largest economy continues to struggle with tepid growth and high unemployment.
The jobless rate ticked up to 8.3 per cent in July and the economy generated a net 163,000 new jobs, slightly more than needed to absorb the expansion of the working age population.
Keep reading - next article