For the week ending March 28, 2026, U.S. initial jobless claims fell to 202,000, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week's revised level of 211,000. This figure was significantly lower than the 212,000 to 213,000 claims economists had forecasted.
Key Data Points (Week Ending March 28, 2026)
- Initial Claims (Seasonally Adjusted): 202,000.
- This is nearly a two-year low, just shy of the 201,000 reached in early January.
- 4-Week Moving Average: 207,750, a decrease of 3,000 from the previous week's revised average.
- Continuing Claims (Week ending March 21): 1.841 million, an increase of 25,000 from the prior week's revised level.
- Insured Unemployment Rate: 1.2%, which remained unchanged from the previous week.
Market Context and Trends
- Labor Market Phase: Analysts describe the current environment as a "low-hire, low-fire" phase, where employers are holding onto existing workers despite a slowdown in new hiring.
- Economic Impact: The drop in claims initially pushed Treasury yields higher and served as a bullish indicator for economic resilience.
- State-Level Changes: The largest decreases in unadjusted initial claims were recently seen in states like Michigan, Georgia, and Iowa.
The U.S. Department of Labor and FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) provide the official weekly updates for these figures.
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