US jobless claims fell to 194,000 last week, lowest since July - ABC 10News San Diego

U.S. unemployment claims fell to 194,000 last week, the fewest in three months and another sign that layoffs remain low and most Americans enjoy extraordinary job security. The Labor Department reported that claims were down from 200,000 the week before. INTERACTIVE | The jobs employers can't fill and the surprising salaries they offer Applications for jobless benefits are a proxy for layoffs, and economists watch them closely because they can provide signs of where the job market is headed. So far this year, claims have remained at historically low levels, never topping 230,000 in a single week. The four-week average of claims, which strips out week-to-week ups and downs, dipped to 197,750.