Initial unemployment claims increased to 209,000 for the most recent week, above the 205,000 forecast and the prior week's revised 200,000 figure, while the four-week average remained at 199,000 and the unemployment rate held at 4.1 percent. Continuing claims fell to 1.78 million. Data from the Labor Department showed claims within the 200,000-230,000 range observed over the past year.