US initial jobless claims fell 1,000 to 197,000 in the week ended Sep 26, the US
The Labor Department said on Thursday, versus a Refinitiv survey median of 200,000.
September layoffs also declined, indicating continued labor-market resilience
even as employers remain cautious about hiring. Claims remain near a 57-year
low; economists said strong corporate profit growth and firm domestic demand
have limited layoffs, despite the US‑Iran conflict lifting energy prices and
diesel at record highs.
