The Economy & the Fed

Initial Jobless Claims

The number of people who filed a first claim for unemployment benefits in a week, after losing a job. The Department of Labor publishes it every Thursday for the week ending the previous Saturday, which makes it the most timely official read on layoffs. Because it counts paperwork filed with state offices, a holiday or a storm can swing it, so traders also watch the four-week average. The Labor Department calls initial claims a leading economic indicator: a steady rise has tended to come before a weaker job market.

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