US weekly jobless claims decline to 208K as layoffs remain subdued

Applications for US unemployment benefits dropped more than expected last week, with initial claims falling to 208,000 from a revised 216,000, according to data released Thursday by the US Department of Labor.

The four-week average also declined, while continuing claims eased to about 1.8 million. The data suggests employers are largely retaining workers despite broader economic uncertainty, reinforcing signs of a healthy labor market.

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