<h1>US unemployment benefit applications fall to 233,000, beating forecasts as layoffs remain low despite economic uncertainty</h1> US unemployment benefit applications dropped to 233,000 last week, falling by 4,000 from the previous week and below analyst forecasts of 241,000. The four-week average also declined to 241,500. Layoffs remain low despite economic uncertainty regarding tariff impacts. Total Americans collecting unemployment benefits held steady at 1.97 million. The Labor Department data indicates continued stability in the job market with minimal layoff activity.