Unemployment Filings Drop in Fresh Sign of Tight Labor Market and Persistent Inflation Pressures

People walk through a shopping mall in New York City, on Jan. 12, 2022. A recent Labor Department report shows retail sales have declined despite robust hiring in the job market. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Unemployment filings in the United States dropped last week, as fewer Americans filed for unemployment benefits while the labor market remains tight and inflation pressures continue to persist.

Applications for jobless claims for the week ended Jan. 21 fell to 186,000 from 192,000 the previous week, the Department of Labor reported on Jan. 26.