New jobless claims rise to Highest Level Since Feb.

Dejavu all over again.

Initial requests for jobless benefits rose again last week to the highest level since February — a sign that hiring remains weak and some companies are still cutting workers.

The number of new claims for jobless benefits rose 2,000 to 484,000 in the week ended August 7, the second straight increase, Labor Department data showed on Thursday.

The four-week moving average, which economists prefer because it smoothes out weekly fluctuations, rose 14,250 to 473,500, also the highest level since the week ended February 20.