25.06.202612:38:06UTC+00US Initial Jobless Claims Fall More than Expected

The number of people filing for unemployment benefits in the US fell by 12,000 to 215,000 in the third week of June, marking a four-week low and coming in below market expectations of 225,000. In contrast, continuing claims — viewed as a measure of ongoing unemployment — increased by 21,000 to 1,821,000 in the first week of June, the highest level in three months. Although both figures were higher than at the beginning of the second quarter, they remain solid by historical standards, consistent with a labor market characterized by both limited layoffs and subdued hiring. At the same time, initial claims filed by federal employees — closely watched amid the administration’s push to reduce the public-sector workforce — declined by 61 to 431.