As the labor market stalls, jobless claims have risen to almost half a million. This is the second week in which unemployment claims have risen.
This brings the total number of Americans receiving unemployment to more than seven million people.
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The Huffington Post reports:
It was the second straight week in which claims rose. Wall Street analysts had been looking for a dip to 410,000.
Excluding one week in early August, claims have held above 400,000 since early April. A Labor Department official said there was no discernible effect from Hurricane Irene or other storms in the national reading.