Initial jobless claims in the US rose surprisingly

In the US, initial jobless claims rose surprisingly last week. The number had climbed by 1,000 to 203,000, the Department of Labor said in Washington today.

Analysts, on the other hand, had expected a drop to 193,000 applications. Despite the increase, the level of aid applications remains low in a longer-term comparison.

The weekly initial claims are considered a short-term indicator for the development of the US labor market. The US Federal Reserve takes the job market situation into account in its monetary policy.

In view of the robust development and high inflation, the Fed raised its key interest rate noticeably for the second time in a row last week. She has also announced further rate hikes.