US Initial Jobless Claims at 8-Week High

The number of Americans filling for unemployment benefits was 276,000 in the week ended March 26th, an increase of 11,000 from the previous week's level of 265,000. Figures came above market expectations of 265,000, reaching the highest in eight weeks.
DOL | Joana Taborda | joana.taborda@tradingeconomics.com 3/31/2016 3:58:41 PM
Initial claims rose for the third straight week although remained below 300,000 for 56 weeks, the level associated with a healthy jobs market.

The 4-week moving average was 263,250, an increase of 3,500 from the previous week's unrevised average of 259,750.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.6 percent for the week ending March 19, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised rate.

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending March 19 was 2,173,000, a decrease of 7,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up 1,000 from 2,179,000 to 2,180,000. The 4-week moving average was 2,190,750, a decrease of 14,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised down by 1,250 from 2,206,500 to 2,205,250. 

US Initial Jobless Claims at 8-Week High




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US Initial Jobless Claims Rise to Over 2-Month High
Initial jobless claims in the US jumped by 8,000 from the previous week to 237,000 on the last period of August, the most in over two months, and firmly above market expectations that they would inch higher to 230,000. In the meantime, outstanding jobless claims fell for a second week to 1,940,000, the least in five months and below expectations of 1,960,000, despite remaining well above averages from before April. Despite the halt for the slide in continuing claims, the report continued to reflect a softening labor market, aligning with the Fed's rhetoric that a deteriorating jobs backdrop could warrant lower rates. Initial claims filed by federal government employees, which are under close scrutiny as initial firings by DOGE are due to end their severance period, fell by 73 to 515.
Published on 2025-09-04

US Initial Jobless Claims Rise to Over 2-Week High
Initial jobless claims in the US jumped by 8,000 from the previous week to 237,000 on the last period of August, the most in over two months, and firmly above market expectations that they would inch higher to 230,000. In the meantime, outstanding jobless claims fell for a second week to 1,940,000, the least in five months and below expectations of 1,960,000, despite remaining well above averages from before April.
Published on 2025-09-04

US Initial Jobless Claims Rise to Over 2-Month High
Initial jobless claims in the US jumped by 8,000 from the previous week to 237,000 on the last period of August, the most in over two months, and firmly above market expectations that they would inch higher to 230,000. In the meantime, outstanding jobless claims fell for a second week to 1,940,000, the least in five months and below expectations of 1,960,000, despite remaining well above averages from before April.
Published on 2025-09-04

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Initial jobless claims in the US inched lower by 5,000 from the eight-week high on the previous week to 229,000 on the period ending August 23rd, marginally lower than market expectations of 230,000. In the meantime, outstanding jobless claims fell by 7,000 from the near three-year high on the prior week to 1,954,000. The results did not reflect an accelerating deterioration in the US labor market, but held the lingering concern of softening amid slower hiring. Initial claims filed by federal government employees, which have been under scrutiny following recent dismissals by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), fell by 54 from the four-month high in the earlier week to 581.
Published on 2025-08-28

US Initial Jobless Claims Ease
Initial jobless claims in the US inched lower by 5,000 from the eight-week high on the previous week to 229,000 on the period ending August 23rd, marginally lower than market expectations of 230,000. In the meantime, outstanding jobless claims fell by 7,000 from the near three-year high on the prior week to 1,954,000. The results did not reflect an accelerating deterioration in the US labor market, but held the lingering concern of softening amid slower hiring.
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US Initial Jobless Claims Rise to 8-Week High
Initial jobless claims in the US jumped by 11,000 from the previous week to 235,000 on the second week of August, well above market expectations of 225,000, to mark the sharpest one-week count in eight weeks. In the meantime, outstanding claims rose by 30,000 to 1,972,000 in the first week of August, above expectations of 1,960,000 to mark the sharpest value since late 2021. The results were among the batch of data that reflect a slowdown in the US labor market, exacerbated by muted hiring activity due to the increasing continuing claims.
Published on 2025-08-21

US Initial Jobless Claims Rise to 8-Week High
Initial jobless claims in the US jumped by 11,000 from the previous week to 235,000 on the second week of August, well above market expectations of 225,000, to mark the sharpest one-week count in eight weeks. In the meantime, outstanding claims rose by 30,000 to 1,972,000 in the first week of August, above expectations of 1,960,000 to mark the sharpest value since late 2021. The results were among the batch of data that reflect a slowdown in the US labor market, exacerbated by muted hiring activity due to the increasing continuing claims.
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Initial Jobless Claims Unexpectedly Drop
Initial jobless claims in the US eased by 3,000 from the previous week to 224,000 in the first week of July 2025, contrasting with market expectations that it would increase to 228,000. In turn, outstanding jobless claims eased by 15,000 from the over-three-year high in the prior week to 1,953,000, below expectations of 1,960,000. The results continued to reflect a softening, but still robust, labor market with a slowdown in hiring due to the elevated continued claims, contrasting somewhat with the aggressive downward revisions in payrolls by the BLS. Initial claims filed by federal government employees, which have been under scrutiny following recent dismissals by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), fell by 71 from the four-month high in the earlier week to 637.
Published on 2025-08-14

US Initial Claims Rise More than Expected
Initial jobless claims in the US rose by 7,000 from the previous week to 226,000 in the last week of July, firmly above market expectations of a softer increase to 221,000. In turn, outstanding jobless claims soared by 38,000 to 1,974,000 on the previous week, well above market expectations of 1,950,000 to mark the highest level of unemployment since November 2021. The results consolidated the view of a sharp slowdown in hiring and a softening labor market, although initial claims remain below the more elevated levels of early June. Initial claims filed by federal government employees, which have been under scrutiny following recent dismissals by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), fell by 14 from the four-month high in the earlier week to 708, the highest in four months
Published on 2025-08-07

US Initial Claims Rise More than Expected
Initial jobless claims in the US rose by 7,000 from the previous week to 226,000 in the last week of July, firmly above market expectations of a softer increase to 221,000. In turn, outstanding jobless claims soared by 38,000 to 1,974,000 on the previous week, well above market expectations of 1,950,000 to mark the highest level of unemployment since November 2021. The results consolidated the view of a sharp slowdown in hiring and a softening labor market.
Published on 2025-08-07

US Initial Jobless Claims Hold Near 3-Month Low
Initial jobless claims in the US inched higher by 1,000 from the previous week to 218,000 in the fourth week of July, firmly below market expectations of 224,000 and remaining close to the three-month low from the previous month. In the meantime, outstanding claims were unchanged from the prior week's downwardly revised count at 1,946,000, a slight pullback from the 2021-highs of over 1,960,000 from last month. The data reflected more evidence of a relatively robust labor backdrop in the US, while the slowdown in hiring has steady over the last month. Initial claims filed by federal government employees, which have been under scrutiny following recent dismissals by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), fell by 67 from the four-month high in the earlier week to 722, the highest in four months.
Published on 2025-07-31

US Initial Unemployment Claims Fall for 6th Week
Initial jobless claims in the US fell by 4,000 from the previous week to 217,000 in the third week of July, well under market expectations that they would increase to 227,000. It was the sixth consecutive decline in initial claims to the lowest since April, extending the period of relative robustness in the US labor market following brief alarms earlier in the year. On the other hand, outstanding claims inched higher to 1,955,000 in the earlier week, marginally below market expectations but remaining at the second highest reading since November of 2021, reflecting a slowdown in the hiring momentum despite low unemployment. Initial claims filed by federal government employees, which have been under scrutiny following recent dismissals by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), jumped by 193 to 789, the highest in four months.
Published on 2025-07-24

US Initial Unemployment Claims Fall for 6th Week
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Published on 2025-07-24

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Published on 2025-07-17

US Initial Jobless Claims Fall to 3-Month Low
Initial jobless claims in the US fell by 7,000 from the previous week to 221,000 in the second period of July, well under market expectations that they would rise by 8,000 to 235,000. It was the lowest number of new claims since April. In the meantime, outstanding claims were broadly unchanged at 1,956,000 on the previous week, below market expectations of 1,9780,000 to remain below the 2021 highs touched in June. The results continued to reflect a historically strong labor market, aligned with statements from the Federal Reserve.
Published on 2025-07-17

US Initial Jobless Claims Fall to 3-Month Low
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Published on 2025-07-17

US Initial Unemployment Claims Fall for 4th Week
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Published on 2025-07-10

US Initial Unemployment Claims Fall for 4th Week
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Published on 2025-07-10

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Initial jobless claims in the US eased by 4,000 from the previous week to 233,000 on the period ending June 28th, less than market expectations of 240,000. While the figure reflected the softest increase in unemployment in six weeks, it remained firmly above averages from earlier in the year to reflect the gradual softening of the US labor market, albeit still robust in a historical standard. In turn, outstanding unemployment claims were unchanged at 1,964,000, the highest since late 2021, and above expectations of 1,960,000 to maintain the view that the unemployed are undergoing more difficult conditions in finding suitable employment. Initial claims filed by federal government employees, which have been under scrutiny following recent dismissals by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), fell by 27 to 453 in the third week of June, the least in seven weeks.
Published on 2025-07-03

US Initial Jobless Claims Unexpectedly Ease
Initial jobless claims in the US eased by 4,000 from the previous week to 233,000 on the period ending June 28th, less than market expectations of 240,000. While the figure reflected the softest increase in unemployment in six weeks, it remained firmly above averages from earlier in the year to reflect the gradual softening of the US labor market, albeit still robust in a historical standard. In turn, outstanding unemployment claims were unchanged at 1,964,000, the highest since late 2021, and above expectations of 1,960,000 to maintain the view that job openings are slowing.
Published on 2025-07-03