(AP) Applications for U.S. unemployment benefits rose last week, but remain near historically low levels, reflecting relatively few layoffs across the economy. Jobless claims rose by 23,000 to 248,000 last week. The four-week average for claims fell by 10,500 to 243,250. It was the second straight week of declines after rising for 5-straight weeks as the omicron variant of the coronavirus spread, disrupting business in many parts of the U.S. Fewer than 1.6-million Americans were collecting jobless aid the week that ended February 5-th.
