U.S. Jobless Claims Fall 12,000 to 260,000

U.S. filings for unemployment benefits fell last week as the impact of hurricanes Harvey and Irma faded in several states, Labor Department figures showed Thursday.

Applications for unemployment insurance fell by a combined 9,000 in Florida, Georgia and Texas last week before seasonal adjustments, as those states recover from the storms that struck in late August and early September. Claims for Puerto Rico were estimated again, as the island copes with severe damage and disruptions from Hurricane Maria.