First-time claims for unemployment benefits suddenly jumped last
week, marking the biggest one-week rise since Superstorm Sandy
left thousands of people temporarily out of work.  The rise was
partly due to the government shutdown, as well as other
temporary factors, the Department of Labor said.  About 374,000
people filed for their first week of unemployment benefits last
week, 66,000 more than just a week earlier. It was the largest
one-week rise since November 2012, when unemployment claims
surged by 88,000 in the week following Superstorm Sandy.
Because initial unemployment claims closely correlate with
layoffs, this report is considered one of the foremost economic
indicators. But a series of recent temporary factors have
muddled the numbers lately.  Last week for example, half the
jump in claims came from California alone. The state labor
agency has been struggling to keep up with claims after
upgrading its computer system last month. A processing error has
delayed unemployment checks for many people i