US EditionJust 198,000 Americans filed jobless claims last week, fewer than expected as layoffs remain low
Initial jobless claims fell to 198,000, below forecasts, reflecting seasonal adjustments while layoffs remain low and hiring sluggish, Labor Department data shows.
- On Jan. 15, the U.S. Labor Department reported initial claims dropped 49,000 to 198000 for the week ended Jan. 10, below the 215000 forecast.
- Seasonal-Adjustment quirks around year-end likely explain the surprise drop, while analysts say the labour market remains in a holding pattern with low layoffs and sluggish hiring.
- Data show the unemployment rate slipped to 4.4%, continuing claims dropped 19,000 to 1.884 million, and nonfarm payrolls increased by 50,000 in December.
- The Federal Reserve last month trimmed its benchmark rate by a quarter-point to try to stabilize a softening labour market, and Fed Chair Jerome Powell said officials are increasingly concerned the job market may be weaker than it appears.
- Over 2025 the economy added 49,000 jobs per month, the fewest in five years, amid declining open jobs and AI-related staffing uncertainties, analysts said.
66 Articles
66 Articles
Weekly U.S. jobless claims fall unexpectedly, but labor market stalls | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
WASHINGTON >> The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week, but the drop was likely due to ongoing challenges adjusting the data for seasonal fluctuations around this time of the year.
Dollar Surge Amid Falling Unemployment Claims and Economic Speculations | Science-Environment
Dollar Surge Amid Falling Unemployment Claims and Economic Speculations The U.S. dollar appreciated on Thursday, spurred by data signaling a drop in new unemployment claims, adding to the mounting evidence that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged in the short term. The Labor Department reported a 9,000 decrease in state unemployment benefit claims, urging market players to adjust their positions and elevate the dollar.Strategi…
Unemployment Claims Drop Below 200,000 as Layoffs Stay Low
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell last week, indicating the persistence of low layoff levels in the U.S. economy. For the week that ended on Jan. 10, initial jobless claims declined by 9,000 to 198,000, according to Department of Labor data released on Jan. 15. The previous week’s reading was revised slightly lower, to 207,000. The market consensus was 215,000. Any reading below 200,000 is considered historically low.…
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