U.S. initial jobless claims totaled 213,000 for the week ending February 28, slightly below economists’ expectations of 215,000 and consistent with the previous week’s revised figure, according to the Department of Labor. While the stable level suggests layoffs remain limited, continued claims rose to 1.87 million, marking the largest increase this year and indicating more people are staying on unemployment benefits. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book reported that employment conditions across most districts remained generally stable but hiring activity was limited, reflecting cautious labor demand despite a still-resilient job market.