The number of Americans filing new applications for jobless benefits surged to a two-month high last week, but that likely did not mark a material shift in labor market conditions as the rise was related to school spring breaks in New York state.

The Department of Labor said Thursday weekly initial jobless claims are up by a more than expected 18,000 to 241,000, seasonally adjusted.

Initial unemployment claims posted an unexpected increase last week in a potential trouble sign for the wobbling U.S. economy.