Investing.com -
U.S. initial jobless claims were unchanged at two-month highs last week, but were still consistent with a strengthening labor market.
The Department of Labor said the number of Americans filing for initial jobless benefits was unchanged from a week earlier at 276,000.
Analysts had expected jobless claims to fall by 6,000 to 270,000.
Signs of sustained strength in the labor market could encourage the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates next month.