Initial jobless claims in the US rose by 11,000 from the previous week to 219,000 in the last week of January 2025, above market expectations of 213,000. In the meantime, recurring claims rose by 26,000 to 1,886,000 in the previous week, ahead of market expectations of 1,870,000. Despite remaining robust against a historical perspective, the data was in line with the view that the US labor market is due for a slight degree of softening in 2025. The four-week moving average for initial claims, which smoothens week-to-week volatility, rose by 4,000 to 216,750. In the meantime, non-seasonally adjusted claims rose by 11,370 to 239,690, amid sharp increases in New York (4,092) and California (3,999). source: U.S. Department of Labor
