WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits increased less than expected last week as the labor market continues to gradually slow amid cooling demand. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 220,000 for the week ended Dec. 2, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 222,000 claims for the latest week. Claims data are volatile around this time of the year because of holidays, making it harder to get a clear signal on the labor market. Nonetheless, the labor market i…