THE ECONOMY

Jobless Benefit Claims, Inventories Surge: Analysts said the increases largely reflected special factors and not a weakening economy. The Commerce Department reported business inventories jumped 0.6% in January, the largest increase since a 0.7% rise in October. The Labor Department said jobless claims last week shot up by 32,000 to the highest level in two months. “It seems to be the weather [in January] and the strike” against General Motors Corp., KeyCorp economist Jeff K. Thredgold said. Inventories rose as manufacturers and wholesalers had difficulty shipping their goods because of the severe weather, which also kept consumers from shopping, he said. Layoffs contributed to 384,000 new jobless claims last week, the department said.