Free Republic

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless aid soared last week as the backlog from the Easter holiday was processed, adding to worries about the recovery, while U.S. industrial output rose less than expected in March. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 24,000 -- the largest increase in two months -- to a seasonally adjusted 484,000, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Markets had expected a dip to 440,000. "Everything on the manufacturing side is clearly pointing to an acceleration," said Phil Orlando, chief equity market strategist at Federated Investors in New York....