U.S. Jobless Claims Fall to Lowest Level Since Before Storms

Applications for U.S. unemployment benefits declined last week to the lowest level since late August, before major hurricanes sent jobless claims soaring, Labor Department figures showed Thursday.

Jobless claims have returned to levels seen before hurricanes Harvey and Irma slammed into Texas, Florida and Georgia in late August and early September that eventually caused a spike in applications. While the Labor Department said the latest data still reflect the impacts of the Atlantic hurricane season, the number of filings for jobless benefits is consistent with a robust labor market.