U.S. Jobless Claims Reach 4-Month High
14 November 2019 - 2:00PM
Dow Jones News
By Josh Mitchell and Sarah Chaney
WASHINGTON--The number of U.S. workers applying for first-time
unemployment benefits rose to the highest level in months last
week, the Labor Department said. Here are key takeaways from
Thursday's report:
--Initial jobless claims rose 14,000 to 225,000 in the week
ended Nov. 9, the highest level since June. Economists polled by
the Wall Street Journal expected 215,000 claims.
--Claims are volatile and the jump last week was unusual given
broader trends. The four-week moving average of claims grew by just
1,750 to 217,000. The agency didn't cite any special factors to
explain last week's jump.
--Despite the rise, claims remain exceptionally low historically
and suggest the labor market remains firm.
--Continuing claims--or measuring the share of workers who have
sought unemployment benefits beyond one week--fell 10,000 to
1,683,000 in the week ended Nov. 2.
Write to Josh Mitchell at joshua.mitchell@wsj.com and Sarah
Chaney at sarah.chaney@wsj.com.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
November 14, 2019 08:45 ET (13:45 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2019 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.