U.S. initial jobless claims fell by 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 206,000 in the week ended Sept. 5, slightly exceeding economists' 205,000 forecast but remaining consistent with limited layoffs. The four-week moving average declined by 1,500 to 206,000, while continuing claims fell by 1,000 to 1.774 million in the week ended Aug. 29, below the 1.780 million consensus estimate. Claims have held between 189,000 and 212,000 since mid-July after labor-market weakness from late spring through much of the summer. Nonfarm payrolls rose by 162,000 in August, the largest increase in five months, following a 21,000 gain in July, while the unemployment rate remained at 4.1%. The claims figures reinforce evidence that employers remain reluctant to cut staff, though the modest upside surprise in initial filings has kept attention on possible cooling in the labor market and its implications for Federal Reserve rate expectations.