Michigan unemployment claims fell last week

New claims for unemployment benefits, a measure of layoffs, fell to 17,560 in the week ended July 13, from 17,675 the week before, the Labor Department said.

U.S. jobless claims rose to 243,000 last week, up 20,000 from 223,000 claims the previous week, after seasonal adjustment.

South Carolina saw the largest percentage increase in weekly claims, with claims increasing 91.1%. North Dakota, meanwhile, saw the largest percentage decrease in new claims, with claims dropping 58.3%.