Initial jobless claims have risen again. This week by 17,000. Oh, and of course, the numbers reported last week were revised upward.

The Labor Department said Thursday that first-time jobless claims rose 17,000 to a seasonally adjusted 361,000 in the week ended Dec. 15, versus a slightly upwardly revised 344,000 in the prior week.

Update: I don’t have a link but I just heard that sales are down in stores this holiday season.