16.04.202612:36:10UTC+00US Initial Claims Below Forecasts, Continuing Jump

The number of people filing for unemployment benefits in the US fell to 207K in the week ended April 11, 2026, down from a downwardly revised 218K in the previous week, which had been the highest reading since early February. The latest figure came in below market expectations of 215K, representing the largest weekly decline since February and indicating that layoffs remain limited as both the labor market and the broader economy continue to show resilience.

The 4-week moving average, which helps smooth out week-to-week volatility, stood at 209,750, up 500 from the previous week's revised average of 209.25K. Meanwhile, continuing claims, viewed as a proxy for the number of people currently receiving unemployment benefits, rose to 1,818K in the week ended April 4, an increase of 31K from the prior week's revised level.