The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell to 194,000 last week, according to CNBC, UPI and The Epoch Times. That is close to the lowest level since the 1960s.

The Labor Department reported the figure on Thursday, October 22, for the week that ended October 17, the outlets said. The number is adjusted for seasonal changes. Claims fell by 6,000 from the week before, UPI and The Epoch Times reported.

The total is just above the 189,000 reported for a week in July, CNBC said. That was the lowest since September 1969. Claims have averaged 212,000 over the past year, CNBC reported. The four-week average fell to 197,750, the outlets said.

Economists had expected 200,000 claims, The Epoch Times reported.

Employers are holding on to the workers they have, CNBC reported. But hiring is still weak. Employers added just 29,000 jobs in September, CNBC and UPI said. The unemployment rate rose to 4.2%.

The number of people still collecting benefits rose by 25,000 to about 1.7 million, UPI and The Epoch Times reported. The Epoch Times said that was a six-week high. It may also reflect people running out of benefits, the outlet said.

"The claims data suggests that labor market conditions are stable," said Thomas Simons, an economist at Jefferies, according to CNBC.

Federal Reserve officials meet next week to decide on interest rates, CNBC reported. Markets expect the Fed to hold rates steady then, and raise them by a quarter point in December, CNBC and The Epoch Times reported.

Holiday hiring is also starting. Seasonal job listings are up about 10% from a year ago, an Indeed economist said, according to The Epoch Times.

The October jobs report is due November 6, CNBC said.

What we know: New jobless claims fell to 194,000 in the week ended October 17.
What we don't: Whether the October jobs report will show hiring picking up.