Unemployment Claims Fall to Pandemic Low Amid Tight Labor Market

The Department of Labor reported that the number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits dropped to a 19-month-low last week. First-time filings for unemployment claims totaled 290,000 for that week ended on Oct. 16, according to the agency, reporting that the figure was down 6,000 from the previous week. The data released Thursday also showed state unemployment rolls shrinking significantly earlier in October. It was also the second straight week that claims remained below 300,000 a...