Initial jobless claims decline
From Times Wire Services
The number of Americans filing first-time claims for jobless benefits declined more than forecast last week, a drop distorted by seasonal adjustments to account for annual July shutdowns at auto plants.
Initial jobless claims fell 58,000 to 346,000 in the week ended July 5, from a three-month high of 404,000 the prior week, the Labor Department said. The total number of people collecting benefits rose 91,000 to 3.2 million for the week ended June 28, the highest since December 2003.
