Applications for US unemployment benefits fell last week in a sign that the labour market remains in a “low-fire” mode.Initial claims decreased by 4,000 to 226,000 in the week ended June 13, according to Labor Department data released on June 18. The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for 225,000 applications.However, continuing claims, a proxy for the number of people receiving benefits, rose to 1.81 million in the previous week.The figures suggest the labour market continues to be resilient despite the energy-price shock brought about by the Iran war. That view was reinforced by a stronger-than-expected jobs report in May, which showed employers added 172,000 jobs.The data eased concerns that hiring was slowing sharply and led investors to add to bets on Federal Reserve interest-rate hikes.The four-week moving average of initial claims, which helps smooth through week-to-week volatility, rose to 223,250, the highest since December. BLOOMBERG