Initial claims for U.S. unemployment benefits rose to a seasonally adjusted 230,000 in the week ended Feb. 10 after falling for two consecutive weeks, the latest data from the Labor Department showed.
The previous week's claims figure was upwardly revised to 223,000.
The four-week moving average stood at 228,500, up 3,500 from last week's upwardly revised 225,000.
Claims-taking procedures continued to be affected in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, according to the department.
The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate remained unchanged at 1.4% for the week ended Feb. 3. Insured unemployment climbed by 15,000 to 1,942,000 for the week ended Feb. 3 from the previous week's upwardly revised 1,927,000.
