Unemployment claims tick up to 206,000 but remain at historically low levels

More Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, but lay-offs are still rare and jobless claims remain at historically low levels. The Labor Department reported on Thursday that filings for benefits ticked up to 206,000 last week from a revised 204,000 the week before. The four-week average of claims, which smooths out week-to-week volatility, rose modestly to 207,250 last week.