US Initial Jobless Claims Fall Slightly in Week Ended Jan. 24, Above Expectations

08:44 AM EST, 01/29/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US initial jobless claims declined to a level of 209,000 in the week ended Jan. 24 from an upwardly revised 210,000 level in the previous week, compared with expectations for a level of 205,000 in survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg.

The four-week moving average rose by 2,250 to 206,250 after falling by 1,250 to a level of 204,000 in the previous week.

Insured jobless claims declined by 38,000 to 1,827,000 in the employment survey week ended Jan. 17, the lowest level since the week ended Sept. 21, 2024, when it was 1,825,000. Insured claims were at a level of 1,914,000 in the employment survey week ended Dec. 13.

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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