US claims for unemployment insurance jumped by 53,000 on a seasonally adjusted basis from the previous week’s revised level to a total of 253,000, the US Department of Labor announced today. It’s the highest level of claims since Sept. 30, 2017.

Bloomberg reported the increase may reflect the impact of the government shutdown and January can be a volatile month for jobless claims.

The four-week moving average of claims rose 5,000 to a total of 220,250.