WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - First-time claims for state unemployment benefits rose unexpectedly in the latest week, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The number of initial claims in the week ending June 20 rose 15,000 to 627,000. It's the highest level since mid-May. The consensus forecast of Wall Street economists was for claims to fall slightly. Claims in the previous week were revised to an increase of 7,000 to 612,000 compared with the initial estimate of a increase of 3,000 to 608,000. A Labor Department official said that some states reported more end-of-school-year claims. Many states allow bus drivers and cafeteria workers to file for unemployment during school breaks. Meanwhile, the number of Americans receiving state jobless benefits held steady rose 29,000 to 6.74 million in the week ending June 13. The four-week moving average of continuing claims fell 3,250 to 6.76 million.
