2026-01-15 13:31:00
Initial Jobless Claims
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Initial claims: 198,000, ↓ 9,000 from the prior week (revised to 207,000)
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Prior week revision: ↓ 1,000 (from 208,000 to 207,000)
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4-week moving average: 205,000, ↓ 6,500 on the week
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Trend signal: Lowest 4-week average since January 20, 2024, highlighting continued labor-market resilience
Continuing Claims
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Insured unemployment rate: 1.2%, unchanged
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Continuing claims: 1.884 million, ↓ 19,000 from the prior week (revised to 1.903 million)
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Prior week revision: ↓ 11,000 (from 1.914 million to 1.903 million)
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4-week moving average: 1.889 million, ↓ 250 on the week
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Trend signal: Stability with mild improvement, no sign of sustained labor-market deterioration
Initial jobless claims track the weekly number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits for the first time and are one of the most timely indicators of U.S. labor-market health and overall economic momentum. Rising claims can signal increasing job losses and a slowing economy, while declining claims suggest that hiring is outpacing layoffs, pointing to underlying economic strength. Released every Thursday by the U.S. Department of Labor, the report is closely watched by economists and markets alike, with particular emphasis on the four-week moving average, which helps smooth out weekly volatility and provides a clearer view of underlying labor-market trends.
