US weekly requests for jobless aid up 3,000 to 244,000

WASHINGTON (AP) — More Americans applied for jobless aid last week. Despite the small increase, the number of people seeking benefits remained close to historic lows.
THE NUMBERS: Weekly unemployment applications rose by 3,000 to a seasonally-adjusted 244,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. The less volatile four-week average declined 1,000 to 241,000. The number of people collecting unemployment benefits has fallen 8.8 percent over the past 12 months to 1.97 milli