By Greg Robb
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - First-time claims for state unemployment benefits rose unexpectedly in the latest week, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The number of initial claims in the week ending Dec. 12 rose 7,000 to 480,000. The consensus forecast of Wall Street economists was for claims to fall to 465,000. Claims in the prior week were revised to 473,000 from the intial estimate of 474,000. The four-week average fell for the 15th straight week. Ian Pollick, economist at TD Securities, said the rise in jobless claims was unsettling, but said he was comforted by the fact that claims remain below 500,000.
