The number of Americans filing new applications for jobless benefits declined last week as layoffs remained low, which could help to allay fears that the labor market was deteriorating. The weekly jobless claims report from the Labor Department on Thursday,

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell last week as layoffs remain relatively low despite other signs of labor market cooling.

US jobless claims fell to a 2-month low last week, indicating layoffs remain low despite labor market cooling. The report could influence the Federal Reserve's plans for interest rate cuts.

The number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims fell 5,000 last week to 227,000, according to Labor Department data released Thursday. The figure came in slightly lower than market estimates of 231,000, while the previous week's reading was revised up by 1,000 from 231,000 to 232,000.

A step-down in hiring, which pushed the unemployment rate to a near three-year high of 4.3 per cent in July rattled investors and fanned concerns that a recession was stalking the economy

A Labor Department report showed the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits dropped to a 2-month low.

The number of Americans filing new applications for jobless benefits declined last week as layoffs remained low, which could help to allay fears that the labor market was deteriorating. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 5,