The number of initial jobless claims in the United States has dropped to 189,000, the lowest level since 1969.

The number of people applying for unemployment benefits in the United States has dropped to the lowest level in decades, indicating that announced layoffs have not yet translated into actual job cuts. Data released by the U.S. Department of Labor on Thursday showed that in the week ending April 25, initial claims for unemployment benefits decreased by 26,000 to 189,000 people. Bloomberg's survey of economists had a median forecast of 212,000 people. Continued claims for unemployment benefits - which is also an alternative indicator of people receiving benefits - dropped to 1.79 million people in the previous week, the lowest level in two years.