Business & Technology

SINGAPORE (AP) — Oil rose slightly to near $85 a barrel today, clawing back some of a large drop from the previous session amid hope that weak U.S. economic growth may trigger new stimulus measures.

The Labor Department on Friday said the U.S. economy added 80,000 jobs last month, which was fewer than expected and prompted speculation that the U.S. Federal Reserve may implement more monetary stimulus measures known as quantitative easing.

Last week, the European Central Bank and the People's Bank of China both cut lending rates in the bid to boost flagging economic growth.

Recovery has been creeping at a slow pace for much of the American economy, but sales by US auto makers have revved up. Chrysler and General Motors both saw double digit growth in June, and Ford wasn't too far behind. Guest host Maria Hinojosa and NPR's Sonari Glinton talk about what's driving the rise.

LACASSINE, La. — Construction of a $5 million rum distillery in Jefferson Davis Parish continues, with production expected to start this fall.

Trey Litel, president of Louisiana Spirits, tells the American Press (http://bit.ly/OjaSjJ) that some of his company's rum is expected to be available by year's end.

Litel brings 25 years of sales and marketing expertise, including over 10 years with Bacardi USA, to the job.

First-time claims for unemployment insurance benefits in Louisiana for the week ending June 30 decreased from the previous week's total.

State labor department figures released Friday show initial claims fell to 3,456 from the previous week's total of 3,633. The figure was lower than it was for the comparable week a year earlier, when there were 4,169 initial claims.

The four-week moving average, which is a less volatile measure of claims, decreased to 3,792 from the previous week's total of 3,972.