By Robert Schroeder
WASHINNGTON (MarketWatch) -- First-time claims for state unemployment benefits bounced back in the latest week, rising by 30,000 to 554,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The four-week moving average of initial claims fell by 19,000, meanwhile, to 566,000. Continuing claims for unemployment benefits fell during the week ending July 11, by 88,000 to 6.22 million. A Labor Department spokesman said claims are still volatile due to issues related to automobile plant layoffs.
