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Weekly U.S. jobless claims jump 16,000 to 360,000

By Jeffry Bartash

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - The number of people who applied for unemployment benefits in the first week of July jumped by 16,000 to a seasonally adjusted 360,000, marking the highest level in two months, the Labor Department said Thursday. Economists polled by MarketWatch had expected claims - a proxy for layoffs - to rise to 349,000 in the week ended July 6 from a slightly revised 344,000 in the prior week. The claims report often seesaws in July because of shutdowns at auto plants for retooling and temporary layoffs related to the end of the regular school year.