U.S. Jobless Claims Fall for Third Consecutive Week

Initial claims, a proxy for layoffs across the U.S., dropped to 210,000 in the week ended Aug. 18

Sarah Chaney and

Sharon Nunn

Aug. 23, 2018 8:34 a.m. ET

WASHINGTON—The number of Americans filing applications for new unemployment benefits fell last week for the third straight week, continuing to hover near historic lows.

Initial jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs across the U.S., dropped by 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 210,000 in the week ended Aug. 18, the Labor Department said Thursday. Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal expected 215,000 new claims last week.

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