WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of people seeking unemployment benefits rose last week to a seasonally adjusted 377,000, after a nearly four-year low the previous week.

The Labor Department said today that weekly applications increased 21,000. Applications had plummeted two weeks ago to their lowest level since April 2008. The four- week average, a less volatile measure, is down to 377,500.

Applications have trended downward over the past few months. The average has fallen about 9 percent since Oct. 1.

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