REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 19 (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, suggesting another month of strong job growth as the labor market remains tight.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 13,000 to a seasonally adjusted 198,000 for the week ended Oct. 14, the Labor Department said on Thursday.
Though the labor market is gradually cooling, conditions remain tight, with claims hovering in the lower end of their range of 194,000 to 265,000 for this year.
The claims report covered the week during which the government surveyed business establishments for the nonfarm payrolls component of October's employment report.
The so-called continuing claims increased 29,000 to a still-low 1.734 million during the week ending Oct. 7, the claims report showed.
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