Growth Pickup Signaled by Data as Weather Warms: Economy

Fewer Americans are seeking jobless benefits in March, manufacturing in some areas is rebounding and a gauge of the economy’s prospects climbed more than forecast in February, signs U.S. growth will pick up as temperatures warm.

There were 320,000 claims for unemployment payments filed in the week ended March 15 following 315,000 in the prior period, the lowest back-to-back readings since late November, according to data from the Labor Department issued today in Washington. Factories in the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia region grew at a faster pace, while gains in building permits and easier credit conditions boosted the index of leading indicators, other figures showed.