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US Initial Jobless Claims Fall Sharply
Initial jobless claims in the US fell by 23,000 from the previous week to 206,000 on the second week of February, well below market expectations of 225,000, to swing back to levels that are well below the average through the start of last year. In turn, continuing claims, which serve as a proxy for outstanding unemployment in the US, inched higher by 17,000 to 1,869,000 on the first week of February. The data continued to reflect a stable labor market with a slow firing momentum offsetting a soft hiring momentum, consistent with view from the Federal Reserve. Initial claims filed by federal employees, which have been under scrutiny as markets measure the impact of the US government shutdown, rose by 80 to 695.
Published on 2026-02-19

US Initial Jobless Claims Hold Near 8-Week High
Initial jobless claims in the US inched down by 5,000 from the previous week to 227,000 in the first reading for February, above market expectations of 222,000, to remain near the eight-week high from the upwardly revised value in the earlier period. Consistently, continuing claims rose by 21,000 to 1,862,000 in January after having dropped to the lowest level since September 2024 halfway through the month. The increase remained attributed to the business disruptions following the series of winter storms across multiple parts of the country, prompting households to apply for unemployment benefits. Initial claims filed by federal employees, which have been under scrutiny as markets measure the impact of the US government shutdown, rose by 47 to 615.
Published on 2026-02-12

US Initial Jobless Claims Hold Near 8-Week High
Initial jobless claims in the US inched down by 5,000 from the previous week to 227,000 in the first reading for February, above market expectations of 222,000, to remain near the eight-week high from the upwardly revised value in the earlier period. Consistently, continuing claims rose by 21,000 to 1,862,000 in January after having dropped to the lowest level since September 2024 halfway through the month. The increase remained attributed to the business disruptions following the series of winter storms across multiple parts of the country, prompting households to apply for unemployment benefits. Initial claims filed by federal employees, which have been under scrutiny as markets measure the impact of the US government shutdown, rose by 47 to 615.
Published on 2026-02-12

US Initial Jobless Claims Hold Near 8-Week High
Initial jobless claims in the US inched down by 5,000 from the previous week to 227,000 in the first reading for February, above market expectations of 222,000, to remain near the eight-week high from the upwardly revised value in the earlier period. Consistently, continuing claims rose by 21,000 to 1,862,000 in January after having dropped to the lowest level since September 2024 halfway through the month. The increase remained attributed to the business disruptions following the series of winter storms across multiple parts of the country, prompting households to apply for unemployment benefits. Initial claims filed by federal employees, which have been under scrutiny as markets measure the impact of the US government shutdown, rose by 47 to 615.
Published on 2026-02-12

US Initial Jobless Claims Rise More than Expected
Initial jobless claims in the US rose by 22,000 from the previous week to 231,000 on the last week of January, sharply above market expectations of 212,000, to mark the largest magnitude of initial claims in nearly two months. Consistently, continuing claims rose by 25,000 to 1,844,000 in the previous week after having dropped to the lowest level since September 2024 halfway through the month. The rise in claims was attributed to business disruptions following the series of winter storms across multiple parts of the country, prompting households to apply for unemployment benefits, and maintaining the view that the US labor market remains in a low firing and low hiring trend. Initial unemployment claims from federal employees, which have been under scrutiny as markets measure the impact of the US government shutdown, fell by 230 to 568.
Published on 2026-02-05

US Initial Jobless Claims Rise More than Expected
Initial jobless claims in the US rose by 22,000 from the previous week to 231,000 on the last week of January, sharply above market expectations of 212,000, to mark the largest magnitude of initial claims in nearly two months. Consistently, continuing claims rose by 25,000 to 1,844,000 in the previous week after having dropped to the lowest level since September 2024 halfway through the month. Despite the evidence of softening, the results maintained the view that the US labor market remains in a low firing and low hiring trend.
Published on 2026-02-05

US Initial Jobless Claims Hold at Tame Level
Initial jobless claims in the US inched lower by 1,000 to 209,000 from the upwardly revised value in the previous week, ahead of the market consensus of 205,000. In the meantime, continuing claims fell by 38,000 to 1,827,000 on the earlier week, firmly below market expectations of 1,860,000, to reflect the softest level of outstanding unemployment since September of 2024. The result extended the trend of a low-firing and low-hiring labor market, stabilizing since the marked softening on the fourth quarter of 2025 and aligned with the outlook of a lower labor demand and lower labor supply outlined by Fed Chair Powell after the Fed's recent rate hold. In the meantime, initial unemployment claims from federal employees, which have been under scrutiny as markets measure the impact of the US government shutdown, fell by 212 to 798.
Published on 2026-01-29

US Initial Jobless Claims Hold January Decline
Initial jobless claims in the US inched higher by 1,000 from the previous week to 200,000 on the week ending January 17th, holding their recent pullback and firmly below market expectations of a sharp increase to 212,000. In the meantime, continuing claims fell by 26,000 to 1,849,000 in the previous period, remaining under averages from the second half of last year, but remaining above post-pandemic shock levels. The result extended the trend of low-firing and low-hiring labor market, refraining from cooling further since the marked softening on the fourth quarter of 2025. In the meantime, initial unemployment claims from federal employees, which have been under scrutiny as markets measure the impact of the US government shutdown, rose by 364 to 1,010.
Published on 2026-01-22

US Initial Jobless Claims Hold January Decline
Initial jobless claims in the US inched higher by 1,000 from the previous week to 200,000 on the week ending January 17th, holding their recent pullback and firmly below market expectations of a sharp increase to 212,000. In the meantime, continuing claims ell by 26,000 to 1,849,000 in the previous period, remaining under averages from the second half of last year, but remaining above post-pandemic shock levels. The result extended the trend of low-firing and low-hiring labor market, refraining from cooling further since the marked softening on the fourth quarter of 2025. In the meantime, initial unemployment claims from federal employees, which have been under scrutiny as markets measure the impact of the US government shutdown, rose by 364 to 1,010.
Published on 2026-01-22

US Initial Jobless Claims Fall Sharply
Initial jobless claims in the US fell by 9,000 from the previous week to 198,000 on the week ending January 10th, contrasting with market expectations of an increase to 215,000, to mark the second-lowest reading in two years. In the meantime, continuing claims fell to by 19,000 to 1,884,000 at the turn of the year, in line with market expectations, to extend the decreasing trend since October, albeit remaining above averages since 2022. The result continued to reflect a labor market that has low firing and relatively low hiring. In the meantime, initial unemployment claims from federal employees, which have been under scrutiny as markets measure the impact of the US government shutdown, rose by 170 to 646.
Published on 2026-01-15

US Initial Jobless Claims Fall Sharply
Initial jobless claims in the US fell by 9,000 from the previous week to 198,000 on the week ending January 10th, contrasting with market expectations of an increase to 215,000, to mark the second-lowest reading in two years. In the meantime, continuing claims fell to by 19,000 to 1,884,000 at the turn of the year, in line with market expectations, to extend the decreasing trend since October, albeit remaining above averages since 2022. The result continued to reflect a labor market that has low firing and relatively low hiring.
Published on 2026-01-15

US Initial Jobless Claims Rise as Expected
Initial jobless claims in the US rose by 8,000 from the previous week to 208,000 on the week ending January 3rd, loosely in line with market expectations of 210,000, and remaining firmly below the average through the previous year. In the meantime, continuing jobless claims rose by 56,000 to 1,914,000 in the earlier period, above market expectations of 1,900,000. The relatively low initial claim count against the higher level of outstanding unemployment extended the view that the US labor market has a slow pace of hiring against a steady level of firing. Meanwhile, initial unemployment claims filed by federal employees, which have recently been under scrutiny due to the federal government shutdown, fell by 333 to 479 on the final week of December.
Published on 2026-01-08

US Jobless Claims Drop Amid Holiday Volatility
Initial jobless claims in the US fell by 16,000 to 199,000 in the week ending December 27, a typically volatile period due to the holiday season, and well below market expectations of 220,000. The reading marked the lowest level since January, excluding the seasonally volatile Thanksgiving week, when claims briefly dipped to a three-year low of 192,000. Continuing claims also declined, falling to 1.89 million in the week ending December 20 from a downwardly revised 1.91 million in the prior period. Meanwhile, initial unemployment claims filed by federal employees, which have recently been under scrutiny due to the federal government shutdown, rose to 812 from 805 in the week ending December 13.
Published on 2025-12-31

US Jobless Claims Fall Amid Holiday Volatility
Initial jobless claims in the US fell by 16,000 to 199,000 in the week ending December 27, a typically volatile period due to the holiday season, and well below market expectations of 220,000. The reading marked the lowest level since January, excluding the seasonally volatile Thanksgiving week, when claims briefly dipped to a three-year low of 192,000. Continuing claims also declined, falling to 1.89 million in the week ending December 20 from a downwardly revised 1.91 million in the prior period.
Published on 2025-12-31

US Jobless Claims Fall Amid Holiday Volatility
Initial jobless claims in the US fell by 16,000 to 199,000 in the week ending December 27, a typically volatile period due to the holiday season, and well below market expectations of 220,000. The reading marked the lowest level since January, excluding the seasonally volatile Thanksgiving week, when claims briefly dipped to a three-year low of 192,000. The four-week moving average rose by 1,750 to 218,750 over the same period. Meanwhile, continuing claims declined to 1.89 million in the week ending December 20 from a downwardly revised 1.91 million in the prior period.
Published on 2025-12-31

US Jobless Claims Fall Amid Holiday Volatility
Initial jobless claims in the US fell by 16,000 to 199,000 in the week ending December 27, a typically volatile period due to the holiday season, and well below market expectations of 220,000. The reading marked the lowest level since January, excluding the seasonally volatile Thanksgiving week, when claims briefly dipped to a three-year low of 192,000. Continuing claims also declined, falling to 1.89 million in the week ending December 20 from a downwardly revised 1.91 million in the prior period. Meanwhile, initial unemployment claims filed by federal employees, which have recently been under scrutiny due to the federal government shutdown, rose to 812 from 805 in the week ending December 13.
Published on 2025-12-31

US Jobless Claims Fall Sharply
Initial jobless claims in the US fell by 10,000 from the previous week to 214,000 on the period ending December 20th, around the commonly-volatile holiday season for new claims, and firmly below expectations of 223,000. It was the lowest reading since January of this year, with the exception of the three-year low of 192,000 on the also seasonally-volatile Thanksgiving week. Conversely, outstanding jobless claims rose for a second week to 1.92 million in the earlier week, contributing to the ongoing view that the US labor market has steadied in a backdrop of low hiring and low firing trend. Meanwhile, initial unemployment claims filed by federal employees, which have recently been under scrutiny due to the federal government shutdown, fell by 1,091 from the previous week to 805, the lowest in three weeks.
Published on 2025-12-24

US Jobless Claims Fall Sharply
Initial jobless claims in the US fell by 10,000 from the previous week to a seasonally adjusted 214,000 on the period ending December 20th, firmly below expectations of 223,000. It was the lowest reading since January of this year, with the exception of the three-year low of 192,000 on the seasonally-volatile Thanksgiving week. Conversely, outstanding jobless claims rose for a second week to 1.92 million in the earlier week, contributing to the ongoing view that the US labor market has steadied in a backdrop of low hiring and low firing trend.
Published on 2025-12-24

US Jobless Claims Fall Sharply
Initial jobless claims in the US fell by 10,000 from the previous week to 214,000 on the period ending December 20th, around the commonly-volatile holiday season for new claims, and firmly below expectations of 223,000. It was the lowest reading since January of this year, with the exception of the three-year low of 192,000 on the also seasonally-volatile Thanksgiving week. Conversely, outstanding jobless claims rose for a second week to 1.92 million in the earlier week, contributing to the ongoing view that the US labor market has steadied in a backdrop of low hiring and low firing trend.
Published on 2025-12-24

US Initial Unemployment Claims Fall
Initial jobless claims in the US decreased by 13,000 from the previous week to a seasonally adjusted 224,000 for the period ending December 13, 2025, reversing the prior week's upwardly revised 237,000 and just below market forecasts of 225,000. The modest decline suggests labor market conditions remained broadly stable in December. Claims have been volatile in recent weeks, reflecting challenges adjusting the data around the Thanksgiving holiday. In the meantime, continuing claims rose to 1897 thousand in the week ending December 6, 2025, from a downwardly revised 1830 thousand in the previous period, though below forecasts of 1930 thousand.
Published on 2025-12-18