U.S. initial jobless claims fell by 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 194,000 in the week ended Oct. 17, bringing the measure close to the 189,000 level reached in mid-July, which was reported as the lowest since 1969, BlockBeats said on Oct. 22.
Demand supported employment, report said
Economists cited in the report said strong domestic demand was lifting profits and helping limit layoffs. The report also said an escalation in the Israel-U.S. conflict with Iran, tighter financial conditions and higher interest rates could weigh on next year’s labor market. Those are attributed views and risks, not a forecast made by the Labor Department.