* New jobless claims rise 13,000 to 462,000
* Continuing claims drop 112,000 to lowest since Nov. 2008
* Trade gap widens as deficit with China hits record
* Federal Reserve still seen easing policy next month
By Corbett Daly and Doug Palmer
WASHINGTON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - New U.S. claims for jobless benefits rose last week, hardening the view the central bank will pump more money into the economy, and keeping pressure on Democrats poised to lose congressional seats in Nov. 2 polls.
At the same time, record-high imports from China helped push the U.S. trade deficit wider in August, while rising food and energy prices pushed inflation at the wholesale level up twice as fast as expected last month. For details see [ID:nN13264713] and [ID:nN14103290]
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose to a higher-than-expected 462,000 in the latest week, the Labor Department said on Thursday. [ID:nN13264713] [ID:nLLAELE665]
Economists polled by Reuters had expected initial claims at 445,000 in the latest week.
"These numbers don't fall out of the range of expectations, so they don't move the needle too much," said Jason Pride, director of investment strategy at Glenmede Investment and Wealth Management in Philadelphia.
The number of unemployed workers continuing to collect insurance benefits fell 112,000 to 4.399 million in the week ended Oct. 2, the lowest level since November 2008.
Prices for U.S. Treasury securities were little changed after the data's release. The U.S. dollar briefly extended losses and stock index futures trimmed their gains.
In a separate report, the Labor Department said U.S. producer prices rose 0.4 percent in September and the core index, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.1 percent in the month. [ID:nN13264713] [ID:nLLAELE664]
The U.S. trade deficit for August jumped 8.8 percent to a larger-than-expected $46.4 billion, pushed by record imports from China that helped the U.S. deficit with Beijing set a new record of $28.0 billion, the Commerce Department said. [ID:N14103290]
American voters unhappy at high unemployment are set to oust President Barack Obama's Democrats from control of the U.S. House of Representatives in Nov. 2 elections, a Reuters-Ipsos poll projected on Wednesday. [ID:nN13258322]
The U.S. growth outlook has darkened significantly and the
Federal Reserve is unanimously expected to embark on a fresh
round of asset purchases to prop up the economy, a separate
Reuters poll showed. [ID:nSLAELE6FL]
For a Reuters poll on U.S. growth outlook: [ECILT/US]
(Additional reporting by Ryan Vlastelica; writing by Jason
Lange, Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)