By Greg Robb
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - First-time claims for state unemployment benefits rose in the latest week by the most in five weeks, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The number of initial claims in the week ending Jan. 8 rose 11,000 to 444,000. The consensus forecast of Wall Street economists was for claims to inch lower to 433,000. Claims in the previous week were revised to 433,000 down from 434,000. This is the highest level since the week ended Dec. 19. The four-week average of initial claims fell 9,000 to 440,750. Meanwhile, the number of Americans receiving state jobless benefits fell 211,000 to 4.60 million in the week ending Jan. 2. The four-week moving average of continuing claims fell 151,500 to 4.86 million.
