WASHINGTON >> The number of Americans on jobless benefits surged between mid-September and mid-October, government data showed today, suggesting an elevated unemployment rate in October as an uncertain economic environment discourages hiring.

The Labor Department only published the so-called continuing claims data for the weeks ending October 11 and 18.

The government would have surveyed businesses and households for October’s employment report during the week ending October 18. No explanation was given. No official weekly claims data had been published since late September because of the recently ended 43-day shutdown of the government.

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The White House has warned the unemployment rate for October will likely not be

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