Jobless claims drop 9,000 – indicating confidence, Labor Department says
WASHINGTON – The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits dropped 9,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 315,000, its lowest level in three months. It was the second straight decline, and it added to evidence that the job market is picking up after a winter slump.
The Labor Department said Thursday that the four-week average of applications, a less volatile figure, fell 6,250 to 330,500, the lowest point since early December.
Applications are a rough proxy for layoffs. The declines indicate that most companies are confident enough about consumer demand to avoid layoffs.
Employers are also hiring more after harsh winter weather depressed job gains in January and December, the government said last week. The economy gained 175,000 jobs last month, up from just 129,000 in January and only 84,000 in December.
Amazon Prime fee to rise $20
NEW YORK – Amazon is betting that shoppers will pay $20 more for its popular Prime two-day free shipping and video streaming service of movies and TV shows.
The mega online retailer said Thursday that it is raising the price of Prime to $99 a year as it seeks to offset rising costs to ship products to customers. It’s the first price hike since Amazon rolled out the service in 2005.
The move could please investors at a time when Amazon continues to face pressure to boost its bottom line after years of furious growth. As more Americans shop online, Amazon has spent heavily to expand its business into new areas – from movie streaming to e-readers and groceries – often at the expense of its profit.
The company, which warned it would probably raise the price of Prime by $20 to $40 in January, is bolstering the membership program by adding more items available for two-day shipping and rolling out a greater selection of streaming TV shows and movies.
United: Free video streaming
CHICAGO – United Airlines in coming weeks will begin offering free inflight streaming TV and movies to passengers who use their own laptops and Apple devices, a move toward providing video entertainment on personal devices rather than overhead and seatback screens.
Starting in April, the Chicago-based carrier will begin outfitting planes with the ability to stream video content, with initial rollout supporting only laptops and Apple mobile devices, such as iPads and iPhones, with an upcoming United Airlines application. Compatibility with Android devices will be offered later in the year, a United spokeswoman said.
See Grand Canyon on Google
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Google has taken its all-seeing eyes on a trip that few experience: the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon.
The search giant partnered with the advocacy group American Rivers to showcase views of nearly 300 miles of whitewater rapids, towering red canyon walls and geologic history.
The imagery captured from Lees Ferry south of Page to Pearce Ferry at Lake Mead went live Thursday.
Google project lead Karin Tuxen-Bettman says the 360-degree views also aim to educate people on water conservation.
Federal officials and environmentalists have been raising alarms recently about demand outstripping supply on the river serving some 40 million people in seven Western states.