U.S. applications for unemployment benefits jumped to their highest level in two months last week but remain low relative to historical standards.Jobless claim applications climbed by 17,000 to 242,000 for the week of Dec.

WASHINGTON (AP) — US applications for jobless benefits jump to highest level in 2 months but remain low.

Applications for US unemployment benefits rose to a two-month high last week, at a time around the end-of-year holidays when data is volatile.