US initial jobless claims rose by 13,000 in the week ended April 29 to a total of 242,000, the US Department of Labor reported today. The previous week’s level was revised downward by 1,000.

Despite the increase, the labor market remains tight; however, Reuters reported that economists it surveyed forecast claims to total 240,000.

Meanwhile, the four-week moving average of initial claims rose by 3,500 to a level of 239,250.