THE ECONOMY

Sales Outpace Inventories; Jobless Claims Jump: Business inventories rose in February for the sixth time in the last seven months, but they were outpaced by sales as both indicators scored their biggest gains since November. Analysts said the Commerce Department figures, generally in line with economists’ predictions, indicate there is room for manufacturing expansion in the months ahead. In another report, the Labor Department said the number of Americans filing first-time claims for jobless benefits jumped by a surprising 12,000 last week to the highest level in more than a month. Most economists, expecting an improving unemployment picture, had forecast a decline. The Labor Department said new applications for unemployment insurance totaled 348,000, up from a revised 336,000 during the week ended April 2.