U.S. WEEKLY JOBLESS CLAIMS EDGE UP TO 352,000

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - The number of people who applied for new unemployment benefits last week rose by 4,000 to 352,000, indicating little change in a soft U.S. labor market. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch expected claims in the week ended April 13 to total a seasonally adjusted 346,000. The average of new claims over the past month, which smooths out weekly volatility, edged up by 2,750 to 361,250, according to the Labor Department. That's the highest level in two months. Also, the government said continuing claims fell by 35,000 to a seasonally adjusted 3.07 million in the week ended April 6. Continuing claims reflect the number of people already receiving benefits. Initial claims from two weeks ago, meanwhile, were revised up to 348,000 from an original reading of 346,000, based on more complete data collected at the state level.