PHOTO: BLOOMBERG[WASHINGTON] The number of Americans filing claims for unemployment benefits increased less than expected last week, suggesting that labour market conditions remained stable. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 9,000 to a seasonally adjusted 197,000 for the week ended July 25, the Labor Department said on Thursday (Jul 30). The increase partially unwound the prior week’s decline, which had pushed claims to the lowest level of claims since late 1969. The so-called continuing claims covered the period during which the government surveyed households for July’s unemployment rate. There is an upside risk to the unemployment rate rising this month.