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US Unemployment Benefits Preview
The U.S. Labor Department reports on the number of people who applied for unemployment benefits last week. The report will be released Thursday at 8:30 a.m. Eastern. LARGE RISE: Economists forecast that weekly applications increased 16,000 to a seasonally adjusted 280,000, according to a survey by FactSet. Yet such an increase wouldn't be a sign of trouble in the U.S. job market. Applications plunged two weeks ago to 264,000, the lowest level in 14 years. They have fallen 16 percent in the past year. Applications are a proxy for layoffs. When growth of the labor force is factored in, the applications data show that ... (full story)