NEWYORK -The number of Americans filing initialclaimsfor unemployment benefits rose last week, indicating thelabormarketcontinues to cool in the year's fourth quarter. Newstate unemployment benefitclaimsrose by 12,000 last week to 218,000, according to theLaborDepartment. A Reuters poll showed economists expected an increase to 210,000 initialclaimsfor the week ended Dec. 23. The rolls of those receiving benefits after one week of aid rose 14,000 from the week prior, reaching 1.875 million. Continued unemploymentclaims, a measure for hiring, have increased since mid-September, indicating those already out of work may be having difficulties getting a job. READ: US job growth ...Keep on reading: New US jobless claims rise again as labor market cools