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FinanceUS initial jobless claims fall to 208,000, below forecasts
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US initial jobless claims fell by 8,000 to 208,000 in the week ending July 11, 2026, coming in below market forecasts. Continuing claims, which serve as a proxy for the number of people receiving unemployment benefits, also dropped to 1.81 million in the previous week, lower than expected. The data suggests continued strength in the US labor market, with fewer workers filing for unemployment benefits than analysts had anticipated. The report was published by The Business Times Singapore on July 16, 2026.
Source report
Initial claims decreased by 8,000 to 208,000 in the week ended July 11
Published: Thu, Jul 16, 2026 · 09:25 PM
WASHINGTON — Applications for US unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, signaling continued resilience in the labor market.
- Initial jobless claims declined by 8,000 to a seasonally adjusted 208,000 for the week ended July 11, coming in below economists' forecasts.
- Continuing claims, which serve as a proxy for the number of people receiving unemployment benefits, dropped to 1.81 million in the prior week, also lower than anticipated.
Photo: Bloomberg
Source
The Business TimesRegional
Part of this Story
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