Weekly jobless claims increase 6,000 to 223,000
Unadjusted claims drop 68,135 to 284,222
Continuing claims rise 46,000 to 1.899 million

WASHINGTON, Jan 23 Reuters The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits rose marginally last week, suggesting no deterioration in labor market conditions and reinforcing expectations that the Federal Reserve would not cut interest rates next week.

Though layoffs are still low, new opportunities for workers who lose their jobs are dwindling as employers remain cautious about increasing headcount. The report from the Labor Department on Thursday showed jobless rolls swelling to the highest level in just over three years in early January.

The labor market is historically tight but some sectors are slowing the pace of hirings, said Jeffrey Roach, chief economist at LPL Financial. The data suggest minimal stress in job markets. As long as wage growth outpaces the rate of inflation, the economy will chug along, and the Fed will not cut rates as much as expected only a few months ago.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 223,000 for the week ended Jan. 18. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 220,000 claims for the latest week. Claims were lifted by the wildfire in Los Angeles, with unadjusted applications increasing in California, but falling in the majority of states.

Freezing temperatures that have gripped large parts of the country as a well as…