WASHINGTON — New applications for US unemployment benefits rose last week by a higher than expected 25,000 to 410,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday, indicating the labor market remained sluggish.

Economists polled by MarketWatch had expected initial claims in the week ended Feb. 12 to rise to a seasonally adjusted 400,000 from a revised 385,000 the week before.

Continuing claims, which reflect the number of people already receiving unemployment compensation, edged up by 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 3.91 million in the week ended Feb. 5.

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