Washington: The number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims rose by 9,000 last week, reaching a total of 224,000, as reported by the Labor Department on Thursday. According to Anadolu Agency, this figure exceeded market expectations, which had forecasted 215,000 claims. The previous week's level, which was revised to 215,000, also indicates a significant increase. The four-week moving average, considered a more stable measure, increased slightly to 218,250 - a rise of 750 from the prior week's revised level of 217,500. In October, the unemployment rate remained steady at 4.1%, unchanged from the three-month low recorded in the previous month. This consistency in the unemployment rate suggests that while initial claims have risen, the broader job market remains relatively stable.