The four-week moving average of claims, which smooths out week-to-week volatility, rose by 5,500 to 226,750.

Steady hiring, solid pay growth and low unemployment have been good for workers, but have contributed to rising prices.

Fed officials have signaled that the unemployment rate needs to be at least 4% to slow inflation. 

The total number of Americans collecting unemployment aid rose by 47,000 to 1.49 million for the week ending Oct. 22. 

Inflation continues to be the biggest obstacle for a healthy U.S. economy.

The number of Americans collecting traditional unemployment benefits rose by 36,000 the week that ended Aug. 27, to 1.47 million.

The four-week average for claims, which evens out some of the week-to-week volatility, decreased by 4,000 to 241,500.

The four-week average for claims, which evens out some of the week-to-week volatility, rose by 1,500 to 247,000.

The four-week average for claims, which smooths out weekly ups and downs, rose to 252,000, also the highest since November.

Job openings fell to a still-high 10.7 million in June from 11.3 million in May.