Update: US Initial Jobless Claims Rise Unexpectedly in Week Ended Aug. 16

01:22 PM EDT, 08/21/2025 (MT Newswires) -- (Updating Story to Add Historical Note on Insured Claims Level)

The level of US initial jobless claims rose by 11,000 to 235,000 in the employment survey week ended Aug. 16 from an unrevised 224,000 level in the previous week, compared with expectations for a smaller increase to a level of 225,000 claims in survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:50 am ET.

Initial claims were at a level of 221,000 in the employment survey week ended July 12.

The four-week moving average increased by 4,500 to 226,250 after rising by 750 to a level of 221,750 in the previous week.

Insured jobless claims increased by 30,000 to 1,972,000 in the week ended Aug. 9, the highest level since the week ended Nov. 6, 2021, when it was 2,041,000.

The weekly initial jobless claims data released by the US Labor Department measures filings for unemployment insurance benefits. Initial filings are reported through the previous Saturday, while those already on benefits are measured with a one-week lag.

A decrease in claims suggests a stronger labor market, a positive for the US economy and stocks, but a negative for bonds as it suggests wage growth that could lead to inflation.

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