U.S. Initial Jobless Claims Decline Slightly

Fewer Americans filed for initial jobless benefits last week, according to the Labor Department, a further sign that a softening labor market has continued to dodge a big uptick in job cuts.

- Matt Grossman

The week through Jan. 4 brought 201,000 initial jobless claims, compared with 211,000 a week earlier. Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had been forecasting 215,000 initial claims.