Advertisement

ECONOMY

Share via

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.

Advertisement