New applications for U.S. unemployment benefits fell by 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 197,000 for the week ending September 19, remaining near levels last seen in 1969. The four-week average also declined to 202,250, suggesting that layoffs remain relatively low despite uncertainty surrounding tariffs and higher energy prices. At the same time, employers remain cautious about expanding their workforces, creating a labor market characterized by both low layoffs and restrained hiring. The figures suggest that employment conditions strengthened somewhat in September after a weaker period during the summer. Reuters
See "US weekly jobless claims near 57-year lows; price reductions boost new home sales", Lucia Mutikani, Reuters, September 25, 2026