U.S. initial jobless claims fell last week as layoffs remained low, which may help ease concerns that the labor market is deteriorating. Initial claims fell by 5,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 227,000, the U.S. Labor Department said Thursday, below market expectations. Claims have hovered around the 230,000 level since falling back from an 11-month high in late July as seasonal distortions from the auto industry and Hurricane Beryl faded. Although job openings fell to their lowest in 3½ years in July, they still show no signs of deterioration in the labor market.