Initial jobless claims
- US initial jobless claims came in better-than-expected at 216K versus 228K estimate. Prior week came in at 239K
- the four-week average was 235.7 5K versus 231.7 5K last week. This is the highest level for the average since January 20, 2018
- continuing claims 1725K versus 1743K estimate. Prior week revised to 1780K versus 1773K previously reported.
- The four-weekaverage came at 1754.7 5K which was higher than the revised number of 1752K last week
- The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending February 9 were in Washington (+4,554), Michigan (+1,356), Puerto Rico (+396), Oregon (+351), and Montana (+287),
- The largest decreases were in California (-4,054), Pennsylvania (-2,083), Ohio (-1,859), Iowa (-1,463), and Illinois (-1,415).
