#USJoblessClaimsDrop

The number of initial jobless claims in the US has decreased to 201,000 in the week ending January 4, 2025, marking an 11-month low. This drop of 10,000 claims from the previous week's 211,000 is a positive sign for the labor market. The 4-week moving average also declined to 213,000, indicating a downward trend in unemployment claims ¹.

In contrast, outstanding unemployment claims, also known as continuing jobless claims, increased by 23,000 to 1,867,000 in the previous week. However, this is still below the expected number of 1,870,000 ¹.

These numbers suggest that the US labor market is showing resilience, despite concerns about a potential recession. The decrease in initial jobless claims indicates that fewer people are losing their jobs, while the increase in continuing claims may reflect a slower pace of hiring.