U.S. unemployment claims dip to lowest since mid-July, layoffs remain historically low
U.S. initial unemployment claims fell to a seasonally adjusted 197,000 in the week ending Sept. 26, 2026, down 1,000 from the prior week's revised 198,000 and below the 200,000 consensus forecast in a Reuters poll. The Labor Department's latest revised history makes this the lowest reading since July 18, 2026, when claims stood at 189,000. The four-week moving average fell to 200,000, while continuing claims dropped to 1.701 million in the week ending Sept. 19, their lowest level since April 202
