- Prior was 209K
- Four week moving average 212K vs 206.2K prior
- Continuing claims 1844K vs 1847K expected
This report wasn't delayed by the US government shutdown but the JOLTS report was. It was initially scheduled for Tuesday but has been rescheduled for 10 am ET today. Non-farm payrolls was pushed back until next Wednesday, Feb 11.
To me, this report looks like the usual volatility but it could have been affected by the shutdown or some other effects. I'll be on the lookout for a continued rise next week.
Looking back at recent reports, for the week ending January 10, 2026, initial claims totaled 198,000, falling sharply from the prior week and marking the second-lowest reading in two years, well below the expected 215,000. The week ending January 17 saw claims edge up slightly to 200,000, still below expectations of 212,000, while continuing claims fell to 1,849,000. Most recently, for the week ending January 24, initial claims came in at 209,000, down 1,000 from the previous week's revised figure. Throughout this period, the data reflected a low-firing, low-hiring labor market environment, with claims stabilizing after softening in late 2025.
For background, the Weekly Initial Jobless Claims report, released every Thursday at 8:30 a.m. ET by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration, tracks the number of individuals filing for unemployment insurance benefits for the first time during the previous week. As one of the timeliest indicators of labor market conditions, the report provides an early snapshot of layoff activity and emerging unemployment trends across the nation. Initial claims measure new job losses, while continuing claims reflect the number of people already receiving unemployment benefits. Readings are presented both on a seasonally adjusted basis and unadjusted, with the four-week moving average often used to smooth out weekly volatility.
