US labour market data: Jobless claims drop to 233,000 as layoffs stay low; total unemployment rolls hold near 2 million

Applications for unemployment benefits in the US declined last week, reflecting continued strength in the labour market despite broader economic uncertainty around tariffs.According to data released by the Labor Department on Thursday, jobless claims for the week ending June 28 fell by 4,000 to 233,000. The figure came in below analyst expectations of 241,000, AP reported.The four-week moving average — which smooths out weekly fluctuations — also dropped by 3,750 to 241,500, further indicating stability in employment trends.Unemployment benefit applications are widely viewed as a proxy for layoffs. The overall number of Americans receiving unemployment aid for the week ending June 21 remained unchanged at 1.97 million.