The number of initial jobless claims in the United States has risen to the highest level since last October.

BlockBeats News, May 1st, the US Department of Labor announced on Thursday that, as of the week ending April 26th, the number of initial claims for unemployment benefits increased by 18,000 to 241,000, the highest level since early October. The increase in claims was mainly from New York, where the number of claims usually rises around the spring break for schools.