Claims for Unemployment Benefits Rise by 6,000 Last Week

[steve2470]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBJ9L5KKCE.html

WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of newly laid off Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits rose slightly last week but still remained at levels indicating a strong labor market.

The Labor Department reported Thursday that applications for unemployment benefits totaled 316,000 last week, a gain of 6,000 from the previous week.

That increase was above the 2,000-person rise that economists had expected, but the level of laid-off workers remained well within the range that signals the labor market is continuing to improve.

Employers created 207,000 new jobs last month, the best showing in three months, helping to keep the unemployment rate at a low level of 5 percent.

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[liberal N proud]

1. The economy had turned another corner