News

US Weekly Jobless Claims Jump to 5-Month High
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits increased to 965 thousand in the week ended January 9th, from the previous week's revised level of 784 thousand and well above market expectations of 795 thousand. It was the highest number since mid-August, amid a record jump in COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations and new restrictive measures across the country. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the number of claims climbed to 1.15 million, compared with 920 thousand in the previous week. Also, about 284 thousand people applied for help from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance scheme, which covers workers that do not qualify for initial claims, compared with 161 thousand in the previous period.
Published on 2021-01-14

US Weekly Jobless Claims Remain Elevated
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits decreased to 787 thousand in the week ended January 2nd, from an upwardly revised 790 thousand in the previous week and compared with market expectations of 800 thousand. Still, claims remained well above pre-pandemic levels and will likely remain elevated for some time as the number of COVID-19 infections continue to rise at record pace, prompting many US states to impose restrictive measures to respond to the outbreak. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the number of claims rose to 922 thousand, compared with 845 thousand in the previous week. Also, about 161 thousand people applied for help from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance scheme, which covers workers that do not qualify for initial claims, compared with 310 thousand in the previous period.
Published on 2021-01-07

US Weekly Jobless Claims Fall More Than Forecast
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits decreased to 787 thousand in the week ended December 26th, moving further away from a three-month high of 892 thousand hit in the week ended December 12th and compared with market expectations of 833 thousand. Still, claims remained well above the 200 thousand level reported back in February and will likely remain elevated for some time as the pandemic is far from controlled although vaccination has already started. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the number of claims was down to 841 thousand, compared with 873 thousand in the previous week. Also, about 308 thousand people applied for help from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance scheme, which covers workers that do not qualify for initial claims, compared with 397 thousand in the previous period.
Published on 2020-12-31

US Weekly Jobless Claims Fall More Than Forecast
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits decreased to 803 thousand in the week ended December 19th, from the previous week's three-month high of 892 thousand and compared with market expectations of 885 thousand. Still, claims remained well above the 200 thousand level reported back in February and will likely remain elevated for some time as the pandemic is far from controlled although vaccination has already started. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the number of claims was down to 869 thousand, compared with 942 thousand in the previous week. Also, about 398 thousand people applied for help from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance scheme, which covers workers that do not qualify for initial claims, compared with 454 thousand in the previous period.
Published on 2020-12-23

Initial Jobless Claims Seen Little Changed at 885K
Initial jobless claims are seen little changed at 885 thousand in the week ended December 19th, roughly the same as in the previous week and remaining at a 3-month high, as rising COVID-19 cases and new lockdowns across the country continue to threaten the labor market recovery. Claims are far from the 200 thousand level reported back in February and will likely remain elevated for some time as the pandemic is far from controlled although vaccination has already started. Meanwhile, continuing claims are forecast to rise to 5.558 million in the December 12th week.
Published on 2020-12-23

US Weekly Jobless Claims Jump to 3-Month High
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits increased to 885 thousand in the week ended December 12th, from the previous week's revised level of 862 thousand and well above market expectations of 800 thousand. It was the highest number since early September, amid record increases in COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations and new lockdowns across the country. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the number of claims was down to 935 thousand, compared with 956 thousand in the previous week. Also, about 455 thousand people applied for help from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance scheme, which covers workers that do not qualify for initial claims, compared with 415 thousand in the previous period.
Published on 2020-12-17

Initial Claims Seen Falling to 800K
Initial jobless claims are seen falling to 800 thousand in the week ended December 12th, compared to 853 thousand reported in the previous week which was the highest number since mid-September amid rising COVID-19 cases and new lockdowns across the country. Claims are far from 200 thousand level reported back in February and will likely remain elevated for some time as the pandemic is far from controlled, and cases and hospitalizations continue to rise. Meanwhile, continuing claims are forecast to fall to 5.598 million in the December 5th week, after rising for the first time in eleven weeks.
Published on 2020-12-17

US Weekly Jobless Claims Jump to 2-1/2-Month High
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits increased to 853 thousand in the week ended December 5th, from the previous week's revised level of 716 thousand and well above market expectations of 725 thousand. It was the highest number since mid-September amid rising COVID-19 cases and new lockdowns across the country. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the number of claims was up to 948 thousand, compared with 719 thousand in the previous week. Also, about 428 thousand people applied for help from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance scheme, which covers workers that do not qualify for initial claims, compared with 288 thousand in the previous period.
Published on 2020-12-10

Initial Jobless Claims Seen Rising to 725K
Initial jobless claims are seen rising to 725 thousand in the week ended December 5th, compared to 712 thousand reported in the previous week amid mounting COVID-19 cases and new lockdowns across the country. Claims remain elevated and far from 200 thousand level reported back in February before the coronavirus related lockdowns. Meanwhile, continuing claims are forecast to fall to 5.335 million in the November 28th week, which would mark the 11th straight week of declines and the lowest level since March.
Published on 2020-12-10

US Weekly Jobless Claims Fall More Than Forecast
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits dropped to 712 thousand in the week ended November 28th, from the previous week's revised level of 787 thousand and well below market expectations of 775 thousand. Still, initial claims remained well above pre-pandemic levels, amid rising COVID-19 cases and new lockdowns across the country. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the number of claims was down to 714 thousand, compared with 836 thousand in the previous week. Also, nearly 289 thousand people applied for help from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance scheme, which covers workers that do not qualify for initial claims, compared with 319 thousand in the previous period.
Published on 2020-12-03

Initial Jobless Claims Seen Little Changed at 775K
Initial jobless claims are seen little changed at 775 thousand in the week ended November 28th, compared to 5-week high of 778 thousand reported in the previous week amid rising COVID-19 cases and new lockdowns across the country. Still, the claims remain elevated and far from 200 thousand level reported back in February before the coronavirus related lockdowns. Meanwhile, continuing claims are forecast to drop to 5.915 million in the November 21st week, which would mark the 10th straight week of declines and the lowest level since March.
Published on 2020-12-03

US Initial Jobless Claims Highest in 5-Weeks
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits increased to 778 thousand in the week ended November 21st, from the previous week's revised level of 748 thousand and well above market expectations of 730 thousand. It is the highest number in 5 weeks amid rising COVID-19 cases and new lockdowns across the country. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the number of claims was up to 828 thousand, compared with 749 thousand in the previous week. Also, more than 312 thousand people applied for help from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance scheme, which covers workers that do not qualify for initial claims, compared with 320 thousand in the previous period.
Published on 2020-11-25

Weekly Jobless Claims Seen Falling to 730K
Initial jobless claims are seen falling to 730 thousand in the week ended November 21st, after rising for the first time in over a month the week before, amid rising COVID-19 cases and new lockdowns across the country. That would be the sixth consecutive week with claims below 800 thousand, although they remain well above pre-pandemic levels. At the same time, continuing claims are forecast to drop to 6.02 million in the November 14th week, the lowest level since March.
Published on 2020-11-25

US Weekly Jobless Claims Unexpectedly Rise
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits rose to 742 thousand in the week ended November 14th, from the previous week's revised level of 711 thousand and well above market expectations of 707 thousand. It was the first rise in initial claims in over a month amid rising COVID-19 cases and new lockdowns across the country. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the number of claims were up to 743 thousand, compared with 725 thousand in the previous week. Also, more than 320 thousand people applied for help from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance scheme, which covers workers that do not qualify for initial claims, compared with 296 thousand in the previous period.
Published on 2020-11-19

Initial Claims Seen Little Changed
Initial jobless claims are seen edging down to 707 thousand in the week ended November 13th, from 709 thousand in the previous week. That would be the fifth consecutive week with claims remaining below 800 thousand, the first time it happens since the effects of the coronavirus pandemic started to being felt back in March. Still, initial claims remain well above pre-pandemic levels. At the same time, continuing claims are forecast to drop to 6.47 million from 6.78 million in the November 6th week, also the lowest level since March. However, rising coronavirus infections and new restrictions introduced in many states are likely to negatively affect the labour market in the coming weeks.
Published on 2020-11-19

US Weekly Jobless Claims Fall More than Forecast
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits declined to 709 thousand in the week ended November 7th, from the previous week's revised level of 757 thousand and below market expectations of 735 thousand. It is the lowest number since late March but still well above pre-pandemic levels. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the number of claims declined to 723 thousand, compared with 744 thousand in the previous week. Also, more than 298 thousand people applied for help from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance scheme, which covers workers that do not qualify for initial claims, compared with 362 thousand in the previous period.
Published on 2020-11-12

US Weekly Jobless Claims Seen Falling for 4th Week
Initial jobless claims are seen falling to 735 thousand in the week ended November 6th, from 751 thousand in the previous week. That would be the fourth consecutive week with claims remaining below 800 thousand, the first time it happens since the effects of the coronavirus pandemic started to being felt back in March. Still, initial claims remain well above pre-pandemic levels. At the same time, continuing claims are forecast to drop to 6.9 million from 7.3 million in the October 30th week, also the lowest level since March.
Published on 2020-11-12

US Weekly Jobless Claims Above Forecasts
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits declined to 751 thousand in the week ended October 31st, from the previous week's revised level of 758 thousand but above market expectations of 732 thousand. Initial claims were at their lowest level since late March, but remained well above pre-pandemic levels. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the number of claims were almost unchanged at 738 thousand, compared with 739 thousand in the previous week. Also, almost 363 thousand people applied for help from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance scheme, which covers workers that do not qualify for initial claims, compared with 359 thousand in the previous period.
Published on 2020-11-05

Initial Jobless Claims Expected to Fall for 3rd Week
732 thousand American workers are expected to have filed unemployment benefits during the week ending October 31st, compared to 751 thousand in the previous week. It would be the 3rd consecutive week with claims remaining below 800 thousand, the first time it happens since the coronavirus pandemic started. Meanwhile, continuing claims are projected to fall to 7.2 million from 7.75 million. Continuing claims have been falling consistently since reaching an all-time high of 24.91 million in May of 2020 but remain much above 1.7 million average reported before the pandemic.
Published on 2020-11-05

US Weekly Jobless Claims Fall More than Forecast
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits declined to 751 thousand in the week ended October 24th, from the previous week's revised level of 791 thousand and below market expectations of 775 thousand. Initial claims were at their lowest level since late March, but remained well above pre-pandemic levels. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the number of claims dropped to 732 thousand, from 761 thousand in the previous week. Also, almost 360 thousand people applied for help from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance scheme, which covers workers that do not qualify for initial claims, compared with 345 thousand in the previous period.
Published on 2020-10-29