LOC18:35
15:35 GMT
WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 (KUNA) -- U.S. government data released on Thursday
showed that new jobless claims rose last week, and the U.S. trade deficit
reached 8.8 percent, hitting 46.3 billion dollars in August.
Jobless claims rose by 13,000 to 462,000 in the week ended Oct. 9, U.S.
Labor Department figures showed.
The total number of people on unemployment insurance rolls decreased to the
lowest level since November 2008, while those getting extended benefits
declined. The new jobless numbers indicated the U.S. job market is still
struggling.
At the same time, record-high imports from China helped push the U.S. trade
deficit wider in August, while rising food and energy prices pushed inflation
at the wholesale level up twice as fast as expected last month.
The U.S. trade deficit increase in August was pushed by record imports
from China that helped the U.S. deficit with China set a new record of 28
billion dollars, the U.S. Commerce Department said. (end)
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