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A separate report Thursday showed the number of Americans applying for jobless benefits rose last week after reaching the lowest level in 5 1/2 years. But the broader trend suggests companies are laying off fewer employees and could step up hiring in the months ahead. The Labor Department said applications for first-time benefits rose 13,000 to a seasonally adjusted 336,000 in the week ending Aug. 17. The four-week average, which smooths out week-to-week fluctuations, fell by 2,250 to 330,500. That's the sixth straight decline and the lowest for the average since November 2007.
[Associated
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