Initial jobless claims rose by 21,000 last week to a total of 218,000, the highest level since January, the US Department of Labour reported today.

The previous week’s level was revised downward by 6,000.

The four-week moving average of claims was 199,500, an increase of 8,250 from the previous week’s revised average, which was revised downward by 1,500 to 191,250.

Additionally, the advance number for continuing claims in the week ended May 7 was 1,317,000, its lowest level since December 1969.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 200,000 new applications for the week, CNBC reported.