More Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week as annual auto-plant shutdowns continued to affect data. Jobless claims rose by 7,000 to 343,000 in the week ended July 20 from a revised 336,000 the prior period, Labor Department figures showed today in Washington. The median forecast of 49 economists surveyed by Bloomberg projected 340,000. The retooling at carmakers and school closings typical during this time of year continued to influence the figures last week, a spokesman said as the data were released. Beyond the swings, the job market is improving as firings slow and payroll gains pick up, raising the ... (full story)