WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans claiming new unemployment benefits was steady last week and heavy discounting lifted sales at retailers in July, hopeful signs for the sputtering economy. (http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/reuters/topNews?d=yIl2AUoC8zA) (http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/reuters/topNews?i=JaL9TMSs3c0:HzkjQlvAWRI:V_sGLiPBpWU) (http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/reuters/topNews?i=JaL9TMSs3c0:HzkjQlvAWRI:-BTjWOF_DHI) (http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/reuters/topNews/~4/JaL9TMSs3c0)