Source Archive
By Matt Grossman, Reporter
Initial U.S. Jobless Claims
More Americans filed for initial jobless benefits last week, according to the Department of Labor, raising the tally to the highest weekly level since December.
The week through Feb. 22 brought 242,000 initial jobless claims, compared with 220,000 a week earlier.
Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had forecast 225,000 initial claims.
The report brought little clear evidence of the government layoffs enacted by the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency initiative.
Federal employees are covered by a separate unemployment-insurance program, for which the data lag. In the week through Feb. 15, there were 614 new filings by former federal civilian employees, up from 613 a week earlier.
It's difficult to say how grim the rise in overall layoffs looks for the broader economy.
On the one hand, it comes alongside a big drop in consumer sentiment and some signs that businesses are putting plans on pause amid policy uncertainty.
On the other, initial claims have bounced between about 200,000 and 250,000 for most of the past year, so it still could prove to be another blip.
By Matt Grossman, Reporter
Initial U.S. Jobless Claims
More Americans filed for initial jobless benefits last week, according to the Department of Labor, raising the tally to the highest weekly level since December.
The week through Feb. 22 brought 242,000 initial jobless claims, compared with 220,000 a week earlier.
Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal had forecast 225,000 initial claims.
The report brought little clear evidence of the government layoffs enacted by the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency initiative.
Federal employees are covered by a separate unemployment-insurance program, for which the data lag. In the week through Feb. 15, there were 614 new filings by former federal civilian employees, up from 613 a week earlier.
It's difficult to say how grim the rise in overall layoffs looks for the broader economy.
On the one hand, it comes alongside a big drop in consumer sentiment and some signs that businesses are putting plans on pause amid policy uncertainty.
On the other, initial claims have bounced between about 200,000 and 250,000 for most of the past year, so it still could prove to be another blip.
