business

WASHINGTON - With the number of new claims for U.S. jobless benefits hitting a 16-year high, some economists warn of further waves of layoffs in the months ahead.

Even already battered industries such as construction and manufacturing are expected to see more job cuts. Layoffs also are likely to spread to relatively unscathed areas such as retail, transportation and hotels and restaurants.

"I don't think any of these sectors have reached the bottom," said Carl Riccadonna, senior U.S. economist at Deutsche Bank.

The Labor Department said Thursday that new claims for jobless benefits rose last week to a seasonally adjusted 542,000 from a downwardly revised figure of 515,000 in the previous week, much higher than Wall Street economists expected.

That is also the highest level of claims since July 1992, the department said, when the U.S. economy was emerging from a recession. The four-week average of claims, which smooths out fluctuations, was even worse: It rose to 506,500, highest in more than 25 years.

The news contributed to another disastrous day on Wall Street. The Dow fell 444.99, or 5.56 percent, to 7,552.29 -- the biggest percentage drop for the blue chips since Oct. 22 and the Dow's lowest close since March 12, 2003.

Broader stock indicators also showed huge declines. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 54.14, or 6.71 percent, to 752.44, its lowest daily close since April 14, 1997. The Nasdaq composite index fell 70.30, or 5.07 percent, to 1,316.12.

After news of the soaring jobless claims, the Senate approved legislation to extend unemployment benefits through the holidays. The White House said President Bush would quickly sign the bill.

The measure will provide seven additional weeks of payments to those who have exhausted their benefits. Those in states where the unemployment rate exceeds 6 percent would be eligible for an additional 13 weeks, for a total of 20 extra weeks. Benefit checks average about $300 a week.

That's on top of a 13-week extension approved by Congress last June. Jobless benefits normally last up to 26 weeks.

ASSOCIATED PRESS