Thursday's jobless claims report added to a murky picture heading into the monthly employment survey.

周四公布的申领失业救济金人数报告为月度就业调查报告描绘了暗淡的前景。

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It was a mixed day for the markets with stocks traded mostly flat, but drifting lower later in the day, as the latest jobless numbers suggest an improvement in the employment picture, but that was offset by disappointing numbers from the housing sector.

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Jobless claims are clearly a barometer of the larger economic picture and are more of a coindicator than a leading indicator.

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Though the unemployment picture is still dim, with the July jobless rate ticking up to 8.3%, some people are nevertheless finding work.

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