US Jobless Claims Edge Up; Trend Signals Firmer Labor Market

By Lucia Mutikani

(Reuters) - The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits rose last week for a third straight week, but the underlying trend continued to point to solid improvement in the labor market.

Although the economy is recovering from a soft patch at the start of the year, other data on Thursday showing weak new home sales and manufacturing activity suggested that the rebound could lack the vigor seen after last year's first-quarter weather-induced slump.