US Unemployment Claims Dropped To 206,000 Last Week With Layoffs Still Sparse

By PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Fewer people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, another sign that layoffs remain low and that most Americans enjoy job security. The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claims dropped to 206,000 last week from a revised 212,000 the week before. The four-week average of claims, which smooths out week-to-week ups and…