The number of Americans seeking first-time jobless benefits rose last week, but the jump could reflect a hurricane striking the Southeast and a bounce back after touching a four-decade low.

Initial jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs, rose by 13,000 to a seasonally adjusted 260,000 in the week ended Oct. 15, the Labor Department said Thursday. Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal had expected 250,000 new claims last week.

Claims...