The increase partially unwound the prior week's decline, which had pushed claims to the lowest level of claims since late 1969. Claims tend to be volatile in July when motor vehicle manufacturers typically idle plants for annual maintenance and retooling.

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week but layoffs remain in the historically healthy range of the past few years

The increase partially unwound the prior week's decline, which had pushed claims to the lowest level of claims since late 1969. Claims tend to be volatile in July when motor…