New US unemployment-benefit claims fell to a seasonally adjusted 197,000 in the week ended September 26, the Labor Department reported on October 1. That was 1,000 fewer than the previous week’s revised level.
The prior reading was revised from 197,000 to 198,000. The four-week moving average, which reduces weekly volatility, declined by 2,500 to 200,000, offering a steadier measure of new benefit applications.
Continuing claims fell by 11,000 to 1.701 million in the week ended September 19. That series runs one week behind initial claims and tracks people receiving benefits after their first application.
The insured unemployment rate held at 1.1%. This measure covers workers in the unemployment-insurance system and is different from the broader unemployment rate in the monthly jobs report. The weekly estimates remain subject to revision.
The figures provide another labor-market signal as investors assess economic resilience alongside Treasury pressure. Fewer new applications suggest layoffs remain contained, but claims alone do not establish the strength of hiring or determine the Federal Reserve’s next decision.
