Continuing jobless claims in the United States fell to 1.777 million in the week ending July 31, below the 1.8 million forecast in data released Thursday. The measure, which tracks how many people remain on unemployment benefits after an initial claim, pointed to a modest easing in labor market strain as hiring slows and layoffs stay relatively contained. The data matters because the Federal Reserve (U.S. central bank) is weighing labor market conditions alongside inflation in setting interest rates. Lower continuing claims can indicate displaced workers are finding new jobs relatively quickly, although the level remains above pre-pandemic norms and will be assessed alongside other economic indicators in coming reports.