The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits jumped last week, apparently reflecting the spring slowdown in the economy. The Labor Department said Thursday that applications for jobless benefits totaled 332,000 last week, an increase of 19,000 from the previous week, exceeding market expectations. Economists had forecast that jobless claims would rise by 7,000.
See "Claims for Jobless Benefits Jump by 19,00", Marcy Gordon, San Francisco Chronicle, July 12, 2006