New filings for unemployment benefits in the United States dropped to 236,000 last week, the lowest reading since April, according to Reuters. The decline suggests employers are still retaining workers even as the economy adjusts to softer inflation and moderating growth.

The four-week average also edged lower, a sign that recent volatility in claims has eased. Economists often watch both figures together because the weekly number can swing sharply, while the rolling average offers a clearer view of labor-market trends.

The latest report adds to evidence that the US job market remains resilient. While hiring has cooled from earlier peaks, consumer spending has held up and layoffs have not accelerated enough to point to a broad weakening in employment conditions.

For policymakers and investors, the data reinforces the picture of an economy that is slowing without showing signs of acute stress. That balance may help the Federal Reserve weigh its next steps as it tries to keep inflation in check without pushing unemployment higher.