The U.S. Labor Department is out with another weekly jobless claims reading. Weekly claims rose by 24,000 to 329,000 in the past week, and the prior week’s reading was revised upward by 1,000 claims.
The one caveat we would issue is that the reports around Easter each and every year can create some confusion and volatility in the weekly jobs reports. That being said, the Labor Department did specifically say in its release that there were no special factors impacting this week’s initial claims.
Dow Jones (WSJ) was calling for a reading of 315,000 in the past week. Bloomberg was looking for a slightly lower reading of about 313,000 in weekly claims.
Another boost was seen in the four week average, which was up by 4,750 to 316,750.
Continuing jobless claims, measured with a one-week lag, continued their decline with a drop of 61,000 to 2.68 million. This continues to be at multiyear lows, and it was listed as the lowest level for insured unemployment since December 8, 2007, when it was 2,672,000.
The #1 Thing to Do Before You Claim Social Security (Sponsor)
Choosing the right (or wrong) time to claim Social Security can dramatically change your retirement. So, before making one of the biggest decisions of your financial life, it’s a smart idea to get an extra set of eyes on your complete financial situation.
A financial advisor can help you decide the right Social Security option for you and your family. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you.
Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you optimize your Social Security outcomes.
Have questions about retirement or personal finance? Email us at [email protected]!
By emailing your questions to 24/7 Wall St., you agree to have them published anonymously on a673b.bigscoots-temp.com.
By submitting your story, you understand and agree that we may use your story, or versions of it, in all media and platforms, including via third parties.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Latest from 24/7
