THE ECONOMY

* The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits jumped by 27,000 to 301,000 for the week ended Feb. 5, the Labor Department said, reflecting in part the impact of snowstorms that raked parts of the country. Many analysts were expecting claims of about 280,000. The less volatile, four-week moving average of claims fell sharply last week to 276,250, the lowest level since Dec. 15, 1973.