In the week ending June 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 364,000, a decrease of 51,000 from the previous week's revised level. This is the lowest level for initial claims since March 14, 2020 when it was 256,000. The previous week's level was revised up by 4,000 from 411,000 to 415,000. The 4-week moving average was 392,750, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week's revised average. This is the lowest level for this average since March 14, 2020 when it was 225,500. The previous week's average was revised up by 1,000 from 397,750 to 398,750. The advance seasonally adjusted insured ... (full story)

Initial filings for unemployment insurance fell sharply last week, indicating continued improvement in the U.S. jobs market, the Labor Department reported Thursday. First-time jobless claims totaled 364,000 for the week ended June 26, compared to the 390,000 Dow Jones estimate. That marked a new pandemic-era low; the last time there were fewer claims was the week of March 14, 2020, just before the worst of the economic damage hit. The report come a day before the government releases its much-anticipated nonfarm payrolls count for June. That is expected to show a gain of 706,000, against May’s 559,000, and a decrease ... (full story)