US Initial Jobless Claims Fall in Week Ended May 16

08:41 AM EDT, 05/21/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US initial jobless claims fell to a level of 209,000 in the employment survey week ended May 16 from an upwardly revised 212,000 level in the previous week, compared with expectations for a smaller decrease to 210,000 in survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:30 am ET.

Initial claims were at a level of 215,000 in the employment survey week ended April 18.

The four-week moving average fell by 1,500 to 202,500 after rising by 1,000 to a level of 204,000 in the previous week.

Insured jobless claims rose by 6,000 to 1,782,000 in the week ended May 9.

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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