FEWER SEEK JOBLESS AID AS HURRICANE IMPACT FADES

Applications for U.S. unemployment aid fell 15,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 243,000. Applications fell in Texas and Florida, where Hurricanes Harvey and Irma inflicted heavy damage in late August and September. The number of people receiving benefits nationwide fell 32,000 to a seasonally adjusted 1.89 million, the lowest since December 1973.