However, some claim that the sea level is not rising fast enough to make it a concern.

A third report said new claims for unemployment benefits rose to 417,000, a two-month high.

For the week ended last Saturday, jobless claims rose 97,000, to 413,000.

The increase was the first since the week that ended June 8, when new claims rose by 47,000.

First-time claims for unemployment benefits rose to the highest level in more than a month.

The Government also reported jobless claims rose by 3,000 last week to 327,000.

"I just heard claims on stolen luggage here are really rising," he said.

It is the third straight week that initial claims have risen by more than 500,000.

The report, which showed that claims rose by 8,000, to 315,000, helped support the gains in bonds.

First-time claims rose to 350,000, from a revised 333,000 the previous week.