By Greg Robb
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - First-time claims for state unemployment benefits rose in the latest week, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The number of initial claims in the week ending Aug. 11 rose 2,000 to 366,000. The consensus forecast of Wall Street economists was for claims to rise to 365,000. Claims have been at the low end of the recent range. As a result, the four-week average fell 5,500 to 363,750. This is the lowest level since the week ended March 31. Claims in the previous week were revised to a decrease of 4,000 to 364,000 compared with the initial estimate of a drop of 6,000 to 361,000.
