The feeble economy exhibited a smidgen of strength last week, with mildly positive reports on jobs, store sales and housing. Figures released on unemployment claims, store sales and home-buying contracts all trend in the right direction, tempering fears that the economy is on the brink of another downturn. Still, growth remains anemic and a report is forecast to show that employers have yet to step up hiring. For now, companies aren’t resorting to widespread layoffs. New applications for unemployment benefits declined for the second straight week after rising in the previous three to above the half-million mark. Claims for unemployment aid fall last week by 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 472,000, the Labor Department said. There would be far fewer claims in a healthy economy. The Labor Department is supposed to be forecasting soon that private businesses added a net total of only 41,000 jobs last month, which is the fourth straight month of anemic hiring.