"Continued Strength: US Jobless Claims Decline, Labor Market Shines"

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits decreased by 9,000 to 228,000 for the week ending July 15, indicating a strong labor market despite higher interest rates. The four-week moving average of claims fell by 9,250 to 237,500. The unemployment rate remains historically low at 3.6%, and the U.S. economy has shown resilience in the face of the Federal Reserve's rate-hiking campaign. While there have been high-profile layoffs in the tech sector, overall job growth has been strong, with employers adding jobs at a rapid pace.