ECONOMY

New Jobless Claims Rise: The number of newly laid-off Americans filing claims for jobless benefits rose by 2,000 last week, the government said in a report analysts cited as the latest evidence of a sluggish labor market. New claims for unemployment insurance totaled 334,000, up from a revised 332,000 during the week ended July 3, the Labor Department said. The less-volatile four-week moving average of jobless claims--which analysts prefer to track because it more accurately reflects the labor situation--fell to 339,000, the lowest level in five months.