The data from the Labor Department revealed on Thursday the number of applications for unemployment benefits rose by the most in 19 months last week but the underlying trend continued to point to labor market strength.

According to the report, the initial claims for unemployment benefits increased 37,000 to 230,000 for the week ended April 20. The rise in claims for the week was the most since September 2017.

Economists had expected 200,000 new claims last week.

Claims for the prior week were revised upwardly to 193,000 from the initial estimate of 192,000.

Meanwhile, the four-week moving average of claims rose 4,500 to 206,000 last week.