A pickup in U.S. jobless-benefit claims last week probably represents a pause in a labor market that otherwise exhibits continued signs of tightening, Labor Department data showed Thursday. Highlights of Jobless Claims (Week Ended May 27) • Initial filings increased by 13k to 248k (est. 238k) • Continuing claims decreased by 9k to 1.915m in week ended May 20 (data reported with one-week lag) • Four-week average of initial claims, a less-volatile measure than the weekly figure, rose to 238k from 235.5k in the prior week Despite the increase in the headline figure, the number of Americans filing for benefit claims ... (full story)