Weekly jobless claims rise 18,000: Easter Bunny and Civil Rights Activist are to blame

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 18,000 to a seasonally adjusted 460,000 (week ending 4/3/2010), the Labor Department said. The prior week was adjusted to reflect 442,000 initial claims versus the previously reported 439,000.

A Labor Department official attributed the rise in claims to seasonal volatility, mainly from the Easter holiday (a.k.a Easter Bunny), and noted there were shutdowns in two states. A holiday on March 31 in California (César Chávez Day)  also had an effect on claims, he said.

Wanted By the Department of Labor