U.S. jobless claims drop to five-week low of 209,000, but the report also contains hints of trouble

The numbers: The number of Americans who applied for unemployment benefits last week fell to a five-week low of 209,000, indicating the U.S. labor market is still quite sturdy, but the report also contained a hint of trouble.

New jobless claims dropped 24,000 from a revised 233,000 in the prior week, the government said Wednesday. Economists had forecast new claims in the week ending Nov. 18 to total 229,000.

While…