WASHINGTON — U.S. jobless claim applications fell to their lowest level in two months last week as layoffs remain low despite mounting evidence of a softening labor market.

What You Need To Know • U.S. jobless claim applications fell to their lowest level in two months last week as layoffs remain low despite mounting evidence of a softening labor market • The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits for the week ending Sept. 20 fell by 14,000 to 218,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday • Analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet had forecast 235,000 new applications • The four-week average of claims, which softens some of the weekly volatility, declined by 2,750 to 237,500

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits for the week ending Sept. 20 fe

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