US Jobless Claims – A decline after four straight weekly increases

The number of Americans seeking first-time unemployment benefits fell last week, suggesting the labor market remains healthy. 

Initial jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs across the U.S., decreased by 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 271,000 in the week ended Aug. 22 the Labor Department said Thursday. The decline comes after four straight weekly increases.

Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal had expected 273,000 claims. The Labor Department said there were no special factors impacting the latest weekly data.

Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story at U.S. Jobless Claims Fall, Remain Near Historic Lows – WSJ