The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits slipped last week.
The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claims fell by 5,000 to 238,000 from a 10-month high of 243,000 the week before.
The four-week average of claims, which evens out weekly ups and downs, rose by 5,500 to 232,750, highest since September.
Weekly unemployment claims — a proxy for layoffs — remain at low levels by historical standards, a sign that most Americans enjoy unusual job security.

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