Initial claims for state unemployment benefits decreased by 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 197,000 for the week ending September 26, remaining under 200,000 for three weeks.
Announced layoffs by US employers fell 18% to 43,281 in September, while planned hires by employers rose to 90,787 from August but remained 23% lower year-on-year.
Financial markets priced in a 37.1% probability of another interest rate hike at the Federal Reserve's October 27-28 meeting, down from roughly 68.6% a week prior.