#CPI&JoblessClaimsWatch Unemployment benefit applications increase by 4,000, indicating an overall healthy labor market

The number of Americans filing initial unemployment insurance claims rose by 4,000 during the week ending Saturday (April 5), the Labor Department said in a press release on Thursday (April 10).

The number of unemployment claims increased to 223,000, up from 219,000 the previous week, according to the release.

The four-week moving average remained unchanged from the previous week, staying at 223,000, according to the release.

The increase in initial claims was marginal, layoffs remained historically low and the total number of unemployment claims matched economists' forecasts for the week, Reuters reported on Thursday.

The slight increase indicated that the labor market remains "overall healthy," AP reported on Thursday, adding that the analysts surveyed had predicted 225,000 new claims.

The Labor Department also reported on Thursday that the number of insured unemployed decreased by 43,000 during the week ending March 29. It fell to 1,850,000, down from the revised level of 1,893,000 the previous week, according to the press release.

The insured unemployment rate remained at 1.2%, unchanged from the previous week.

The state with the largest increase in initial claims during the week ending March 29 was Kentucky, with 2,810. In statements to the Labor Department, the state attributed the increase to layoffs in the manufacturing sector.

Illinois, which had the second-largest increase, adding 1,286 initial claims, reported layoffs in four sectors: transportation and warehousing, construction, wholesale trade, and retail trade.