U.S. jobless claims rise to 229,000 in early June (opens in new tab)

U.S. initial applications for unemployment benefits rose by 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 229,000 in the week ended June 6, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The total was the highest since February and above forecasts cited by Reuters, FactSet and other market estimates. Weekly jobless claims are a near real-time gauge of layoffs. AP described the latest level as historically low and cited economic headwinds tied to the war in Iran. Continuing claims rose by 24,000 to 1.795 million in...