WASHINGTON (FFN) – The number of initial jobless claims in the United States slightly declined last week, coming in lower than market expectations. These figures were released on Thursday by the U.S. Department of Labor, as reported by Reuters and DPA.
Americans filed a total of 231,000 initial claims for unemployment benefits in the week ending August 24, which is 2,000 fewer than the previous week. The data for the prior week was slightly revised upwards. Analysts had expected the number of initial claims to remain unchanged from the previous week’s level, based on the original figure of 232,000 claims reported for the week ending August 17.
The four-week moving average of claims, which is considered a more accurate indicator as it smooths out weekly volatility, was 231,500 for the past week, marking a decrease of 4,750 claims from the previous week.
| Week Ending | Initial Jobless Claims |
|---|---|
| August 17, 2024 | 232,000 |
| August 24, 2024 | 231,000 |
| Four-Week Average | Number of Claims |
|---|---|
| Previous Week | 236,250 |
| Current Week | 231,500 |
Key Words: U.S., unemployment, initial jobless claims, Department of Labor, job market
