11.   A surprisingly high number of unemployment claims last week suggested the economy is slowing enough to keep inflation at bay.

12.   But a sharp drop in initial weekly unemployment claims and a weak dollar discouraged bond buyers early in the session.

13.   But that news was tempered later by a Labor Department report that US unemployment claims dipped last week.

14.   By imposing such conditions, an employer risks employees filing unemployment insurance benefits claims because of having been laid off for lack of work.

15.   Chuck Webb is administrator for the Employment Security Administration of the Arizona Department of Economic Security, which handles unemployment insurance claims.

16.   Construction starts on new homes fell in January and new unemployment claims jumped last week, signs that rising interest rates are slowing the economy down.

17.   Consumer confidence rose sharply in December, sales of new homes surged and weekly unemployment claims rose less than expected.

18.   During the early weeks of this month, initial unemployment claims increased to their highest level in five years.

19.   Earlier, the departments announced the delay of reports on initial unemployment claims, personal income and spending, and durable goods orders.

20.   Fewer Americans filed new unemployment claims last week, the Labor Department reported, ahead of a Government report that is expected to show strong employment growth in June.