The number of first-time claims for jobless benefits dipped slightly last week, to 370,000 from 372,000 the week before, .
The 4-week moving average for claims — which economists say gives a better picture of the trend — was also 370,000, down by 5,500.
that the news suggests "the labor market continues to expand at a moderate pace."
Meanwhile, orders for durable goods (equipment and other things designed to last three or more years), rose 0.2 percent in April from March. Though slight, the increase was a rebound after the 3.7 percent drop in March.
But, orders were down 0.6 percent in April if you exclude the transportation sector. And orders for "non-military goods excluding aircraft" fell 1.9 percent, . The news points to "a slowdown in U.S. business investment," Bloomberg adds.
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