WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - First-time claims for state unemployment benefits rose for the first time in four weeks, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The number of initial claims in the week ending Sept. 26 rose 17,000 to 551,000. It's the highest level since before the Labor Day holiday. The consensus forecast of Wall Street economists was for claims to fall inch up to 531,000. Claims in the previous week were revised to a decrease of 16000 to 534,000 compared with the initial estimate of a decrease of 21,000 to 530,000. The four-week average of initial claims fell 6,250 to 548,000. This is the lowest level since Jan. 24. Meanwhile, the number of Americans receiving state jobless benefits fell 70,000 to 6.09 million in the week ending Sept. 19. This is the lowest level since the week ended April 4. The four-week moving average of continuing claims fell 39,250 to 6.15 million, the lowest level since April 18.
