WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits last week fell to its lowest level in more than 41-1/2 years, suggesting the labor market maintained a solid pace of job growth in July./ Z0 f4 d2 ?6 S+ ?
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The sturdy jobs picture together with a strengthening housing market brings the Federal Reserve a step closer to raising interest rates this year.+ y; v- Y3 L5 o4 q2 S+ r9 v
t0 }' d. ]% @+ a9 a: A0 M WInitial claims for state unemployment benefits declined 26,000 to a seasonally adjusted 255,000 for the week ended July 18, the lowest level since November 1973, the Labor Department said on Thursday. 5 T. H6 t9 ?& \) \