New Claims

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless aid jumped to the highest level in two months last week, while retailers warned of softer sales in April after a stronger-than-expected March, suggesting some weakness in the economy.

U.S. import prices, meanwhile, jumped 1.7 percent in March as petroleum prices surged, but prices for non-petroleum imports were up just 0.3 percent, data showed on Thursday.

An unexpected 19,000 jump in jobless claims for the week ended April 7 was at least partly due to temporary layoffs associated with school holidays, the Labor Department said, but economists said the data could indicate tightness in the labor market was beginning to ease.
Similarly, while retailers reported stronger-than-forecast sales in March, helped by an early Easter and pent-up demand after a cold February, investors focused on retailer forecasts for weaker sales in April.