According to the Labor Department, claims for new unemployment benefits remained at 370,000, the same as last week. While economists had thought the rate would drop by a few thousand this week, the four week average did fall. Economists say that the number reflect the slow growth of the economy. While hiring has not been increasing at a high rate, home construction and factory activity has increased over the last month.
See "No Change in Claims for Jobless Benefits", The New York Times, May 16, 2012