Initial jobless claims rose by 9,000 in the week ended Feb. 27 compared to the previous week’s revised level, the US Department of Labor reported today using seasonally adjusted data. Total initial claims now stand at 745,000. Claims in the previous week were at their lowest level since the week ended Nov. 28.

MarketWatch reported that economists surveyed by Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal had forecast claims would rise to 750,000.

Meanwhile, the four-week moving average of claims fell by 16,750 from the previous week to a total of 790,750. The previous week’s level had been revised downward by 250.

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims, which are not seasonally adjusted, rose by 9,246 to a total of 436,696. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program claims include self-employed workers, among others.