US Initial Jobless Claims Rise in Week Ended May 23

08:40 AM EDT, 05/28/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US initial jobless claims rose to a level of 215,000 in the week ended May 23 from an upwardly revised 210,000 level in the previous week, compared with expectations for a level of 211,000 in survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg.

The four-week moving average rose by 6,250 to 209,000 after decreasing by 1,250 to a level of 202,750 in the previous week.

Insured jobless claims increased by 15,000 to 1,786,000 in the employment survey week ended May 16.

Insured claims were at a level of 1,776,000 in the employment survey week ended April 18.

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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