ECONOMY

New Jobless Claims Rise: The Labor Department reported that the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits rose a moderate 11,000 to 415,000 in late April, signaling persistent weakness in the job market. Massachusetts and New Jersey, long mired in a downturn, bore the brunt of layoffs in the week ended April 25 because of cutbacks in the service sector, the Labor Department said. The rise in initial claims broke a string of declines. But the closely watched four-week average fell to 409,750 from 414,250, its lowest level in 18 months, showing that the labor market is trying to claw its way painstakingly back to health, economists said.