US applications for unemployment benefits fell by 4,000 to 217,000 in the week ended July 19, the Labor Department said. Economists had expected an increase to 226,000. The number of people continuing to receive benefits edged up by 4,000 to 1.955 million in the prior week, remaining near the highest level since 2021. Initial claims have now declined for six straight weeks, the longest down-stretch since 2022 and the lowest reading since mid-April. Earlier in the sequence, claims registered 221,000 for the week ended July 12, 233,000 on June 28 and 236,000 on June 21, underscoring a gradual easing in layoffs even as continuing claims signal that re-employment is taking longer for some workers. Separate data show underlying labor demand remains firm. Job openings reported in the Labor Department’s May Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey jumped to 7.769 million, well above the consensus forecast of 7.3 million and up from a revised 7.395 million in April. The combination of falling new claims and still-elevated openings points to a labor market that, while cooling at the margins, remains resilient. The figures are likely to feature in the Federal Reserve’s policy discussions next week as officials weigh the strength of employment against a recent moderation in inflation.