WASHINGTON — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits surged last week to the highest level in eight months, a troubling sign a day ahead of the government’s report on April employment. The Labor Department said Thursday that applications ...

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Lower unemployment, bankruptcies and foreclosures in March reduced the nation’s economic stress to its lowest point this year, according to The Associated Press’ monthly analysis of conditions around the country. More than 85 percent of the nation’s 3,141 counties and ...

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WASHINGTON — More people sought unemployment benefits last week, the second rise in three weeks, a sign the job market’s recovery is slow and uneven. Applications for unemployment benefits jumped 25,000 to a seasonally adjusted 429,000 for the week ending ...

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WASHINGTON — Fewer Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, partly reversing a sharp jump in applications the previous week. The Labor Department said Thursday that the number of people applying for unemployment benefits dropped 13,000 to a seasonally adjusted ...

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RICHMOND, Va. — As Virginia renews its focus on job creation, officials are using lessons learned from lost opportunities and the importance companies place on saving money to better attract new businesses and help current companies grow. According to state ...

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WASHINGTON — The unemployment rate fell in two-thirds of the nation’s states last month, the latest evidence that the strengthening economy is encouraging many employers to boost hiring. The Labor Department said Tuesday that the unemployment rate dropped in 34 ...

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Stocks slid Thursday after claims for unemployment benefits rose unexpectedly for the first time in three weeks. The Labor Department said Thursday that 412,000 people applied for unemployment benefits last week. Economists expected claims to fall. Applications for benefits peaked ...

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WASHINGTON — More people applied for unemployment benefits last week, the first increase in three weeks. Still, the broader trend points to a slowly healing jobs market. The government says applications for unemployment benefits rose 27,000 to a seasonally adjusted ...

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WASHINGTON — Fewer people applied for unemployment benefits last week, a sign that layoffs are dropping and employers may be hiring more workers. The Labor Department said Thursday the number of people seeking benefits dropped 10,000 to 382,000 in the ...

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WASHINGTON — Unemployment rates are falling in most metro areas across the country, suggesting that hiring is widespread and not limited to a few healthy regions. The Labor Department says more than three-quarters of the nation’s 372 largest metro areas ...

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