US Initial Jobless Claims Fall in Week Ended Aug. 23

08:44 AM EDT, 08/28/2025 (MT Newswires) -- US initial jobless claims fell to a level of 229,000 in the week ended Aug. 23 from a downwardly revised 234,000 level in the previous week, compared with expectations for a decrease to 230,000 in survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:30 am ET.

The four-week moving average rose by 2,500 to 228,500 compared with a downwardly revised level of 226,000 in the previous week.

Insured jobless claims fell by 7,000 to 1,954,000 in the employment survey week ended Aug. 16. Insured claims were at a level of 1,946,000 in the employment survey week ended July 12.

The weekly initial jobless claims data released by the US Department of Labor 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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