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Story summary
- U.S. Labor Department reported 197,000 unemployment benefit applications last week, the fewest since mid-July.
- Four-week average of claims fell to 202,250, down from 204,000 the prior week.
- Claims have stayed below 220,000 all year, a historically low level.
- Employers added an average 80,000 jobs per month in 2026, including 162,000 in August.
