| Definition:
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Jobless Claims are the number of initial claims for unemployment filed each week. Data may be volatile from week to week, so analysts prefer to use the four-week moving average of jobless claims.
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| Meaning:
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Analysts track jobless claims in order to monitor wage pressures and labor market conditions. For instance, low initial claims for unemployment may suggest high employment numbers, which may mean higher wages in order to fill positions. Conversely, high initial claims for unemployment may indicate an economy that is not producing very many new jobs pointing toward a slower economy and lower wages.
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| Weight:
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*
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| Source:
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Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration
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| Availability:
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Reported every Thursday
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| Frequency:
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Weekly
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| Coverage:
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Data is for the previous week that ended Saturday
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| Volatility:
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Moderate
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Impact on the Markets:
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| Interest Rates:
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Jobless Claims  = Interest Rates
Jobless Claims  = Interest Rates
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| Fixed-income:
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Jobless Claims = Bond Market
Jobless Claims = Bond Market
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| Equities:
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Jobless Claims = Stock Market
Jobless Claims = Stock Market
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| Dollar:
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Jobless Claims = Uncertain
Jobless Claims = Uncertain
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| More Information:
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U. S. Department of Labor
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