WASHINGTON: The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits increased marginally last week, suggesting that the labour market remained stable, though it is taking longer for laid-off workers to find new opportunities.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 218,000 for the week ended July 26, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 224,000 claims for the latest week.
