US Jobless Claims Drop to Lowest Since September

Applications for US unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest since September, another sign of resiliency in the labor market amid a weakening economy.

Initial unemployment claims decreased by 20,000 to 211,000 in the week ended Dec. 10, Labor Department data showed Thursday. The number was below all estimates in a Bloomberg survey. The median forecast was for a 232,000 advance.

Continuing claims, which include people who have already received unemployment benefits for a week or more, were little changed 1.67 million in the week ended Dec. 3, in line with expectations. Economists have been watching that measure more closely as it can indicate of how difficult it is getting for people to find work.