US initial jobless claims rose by 5k to 215k in the week ending May 23, coming in slightly above expectations of 210k. The four-week moving average of initial claims also climbed to 209k.
Continuing claims increased by 15k to 1.786m in the week ending May 16, while the four-week moving average rose to 1.773m. The continued rise in continuing claims may indicate unemployed workers are taking longer to find new jobs, pointing to some cooling in labor-market momentum.
| Indicator | Previous | Forecast | Actual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Jobless Claims | 210k | 210k | 215k |
| 4-Week Avg Initial Claims | 202.75k | 209k | |
| Continuing Claims | 1.771m | 1.786m | |
| 4-Week Avg Continuing Claims | 1.770m | 1.773m |
