How Do Insured Unemployment Figures Reflect Broader Trends?
Continued claims for the week ending December 21 decreased by 52,000 to 1.84 million, underscoring improved retention and fewer layoffs. The four-week average of continued claims fell to 1.87 million, down 6,750 from the prior period. This suggests a steady decline in workers remaining on unemployment benefits, which is generally viewed as a healthy sign for economic growth.
Unadjusted figures showed an increase in initial claims, rising by 7,441 to 282,998. However, this was lower than the anticipated seasonal surge of 20,249, signaling that holiday layoffs were less severe than expected. When compared to the same period in 2023, claims increased by just 13,589,…
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