WASHINGTON—The number of Americans filing applications for new unemployment benefits rose sharply last week, although claims filed by federal employees ticked down during the fourth week of a monthlong partial government shutdown. Initial jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs across the U.S., increased by 53,000 to a seasonally adjusted 253,000 in the week ended Jan. 26, the Labor Department said Thursday. That was the highest level for initial claims since Sept. 30, 2017.

Source: Wall Street Journal January 31, 2019 13:34 UTC