Initial jobless claims rose less than expected

(Mervin Sealy from Hickory, North Carolina, takes part in a protest rally outside the Capitol Building in Washington, October 5, 2011. Demonstrators were demanding that Congress create jobs, not make budget cuts during the protest.Reuters/Jason Reed)

Initial jobless claims rose less than expected.

Claims ticked up to 254,000, below economists' expectations of an increase to 260,000.

This marks the 82nd straight week that claims haven't risen about 300,000 — the longest streak since 1970.

Last week, claims came in at 252,000.

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