U.S. rig count hits record lowHOUSTON — The number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. dropped 12 this week to 464, a record low amid continuing price woes in the energy industry.A year ago, 1,048 rigs were active.Houston-based oil field services company Baker Hughes said Thursday 372 rigs sought oil and 92 explored for natural gas.Among major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas lost eight rigs, Oklahoma three, Alaska two and Kansas and Pennsylvania each dropped by one.Louisiana gained two rigs and New Mexico one.Arkansas, California, Colorado, North Dakota, Ohio, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming were unchanged.The U.S. rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981. It previously bottomed out at 488 in 1999.

Dollar General adding storesNEW YORK — Dollar General is aggressively expanding its footprint.The chain, based in Goodlettsville, Tenn., said that it plans to add about 2,000 stores over the next two years, bringing the total count to more than 14,000 stores.Dollar General plans to open 900 new stores and relocate or remodel 875 stores in the current year. For next year, it forecasts opening 1,000 new stores and plans relocations or remodels of 900 stores.It also projects annual net sales to increase 7 percent to 10 percent.

More Americans seek jobless aidWASHINGTON — More people sought U.S. unemployment aid last week, but applications are still at a low level consistent with steady job growth.The Labor Department said Thursday that weekly applications for unemployment benefits rose 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 265,000. The four-week average, a less volatile figure, increased just 250 to 259,750. The number of people receiving benefits fell to 2.18 million from 2.22 million the previous week. That is 8.3 percent lower than a year earlier.Applications are a proxy for layoffs, so the data indicates that businesses are holding tightly onto their staffs, despite overseas economic turmoil and modest growth in the U.S.

Judge triggers stock price jumpWASHINGTON — Shares of Staples and Office Depot soared Thursday after a federal judge accused the government of trying to bend a witness’ testimony in its case against a merger of the last two major U.S. office-supply chains.Office Depot shares rose 9 percent as investors grew hopeful that the proposed $6.3 billion merger will be allowed over the government’s objections. Staples shares jumped 7 percent.The Federal Trade Commission is seeking to block the merger, contending it would dampen competition and allow the new combined company to dictate the price of supplies. The regulators in December rejected an offer from Staples to sell $1.25 billion in contracts to work around the competition issues.Staples is the largest “big box” office-supply chain. Office Depot is No. 2.