WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits increased marginally during the last week of September, data from Haver Analytics showed, pointing to a still low level of layoffs even as hiring has stalled.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased to a seasonally adjusted 224,269 for the week ended September 27 from 218,589 in the prior week, Haver Analytics calculated.

Official data collection and publication has been suspended because of a government shutdown, now in its sixth day. But states have continued to collect unemployment claims data and submit it to Labor Department’s database, which remains accessible. The shutdown following a lapse in funding has delayed the release of the closely watched employment report for

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