#USJoblessClaimsRise The number of Americans filing first-time claims for unemployment benefits rose by 11,000 last week to 219,000, according to Labor Department data released Thursday.

The reading beat estimates of 214,000 and was up from the previous week's revised level of 208,000.

The four-week moving average was 216,750 -- up 4,000 from the previous week's upwardly revised level of 212,750.

The U.S. economy added 256,000 jobs in December. January data is due out on Friday. $TRUMP #UnitedStates