In the week ending May 4, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 231,000, an increase of 22,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 208,000 to 209,000. The 4-week moving average was 215,000, an increase of 4,750 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 210,000 to 210,250. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.2 percent for the week ending April 27, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured ... (full story)

Initial filings for unemployment benefits hit their highest level since late August 2023 in a potential sign that an otherwise robust labor market is changing. Jobless claims totaled a seasonally adjusted 231,000 for the week ended May 4, up 22,000 from the previous period and higher than the Dow Jones estimate for 214,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The increase in claims follows a string of mostly strong hiring reports, though hiring in April was light compared to expectations. Also, job openings have been declining amid expectations that the labor market is likely to slow through the year. Along with ... (full story)