U.S. jobless claims rise; third-quarter productivity posts surprise gain

By Lucia Mutikani WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New U.S. applications for unemployment benefits last week recorded their largest increase in eight months, but remained at levels consistent with a fairly healthy labor market. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 16,000 to a seasonally adjusted 276,000 for the week ended Oct.31, the Labor Department said. The four-week moving average of claims, considered a better measure of labor market trends as it strips out week-to-week volatility, ros