US Initial Jobless Claims Rises in Week Ended Feb. 21

08:41 AM EST, 02/26/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US initial jobless claims rose to a level of 212,000 in the week ended Feb. 21 from an upwardly revised 208,000 level in the previous week, compared with expectations for a larger increase to 216,000 in survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg.

The four-week moving average rose by 750 to 220,250 after decreasing by 500 to a level of 219,500 in the previous week.

Insured jobless claims declined by 31,000 to 1,833,000 in the employment survey week ended Feb. 14. Insured claims were at a level of 1,819,000 in the employment survey week ended Jan. 17.

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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