Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Texas dropped last week compared with the week prior, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday. New jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs, fell to 15,742 in the week ending February 15, down from 16,222 the week before, the Labor Department said.

Initial filings for unemployment benefits in New York dropped last week compared with the week prior, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday. New jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs, fell to 15,574 in the week ending February 15, down from 16,149 the week before, the Labor Department said.

Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Washington rose last week compared with the week prior, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday. New jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs, increased to 7,114 in the week ending February 8, up from 6,474 the week before, the Labor Department said.