Unemployment Benefits

unemployment benefits: WASHINGTON - The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits last week held near a six-year low and U.S. manufacturing activity rose this month, suggesting the economy is starting to find firmer footing, according to Reuters. Despite the increase, the four-week moving average for claims, which smooths out weekly volatility, fell to its lowest level since November 2007. That backed the widely-held view that U.S. economic growth will accelerate in the second half of the year, and hinted at a stronger pace of hiring in August and By Jason Lange Initial claims for state unemployment benefits climbed 13,000 to 336,000, just above the level expected by economists in a poll, Labor Department data showed on Thursday. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.