The number of initial jobless claims in the United States dropped slightly to 245,000, remaining stable at a high level for this year.

In the United States, the number of initial jobless claims slightly decreased last week, stabilizing near an eight-month high. In the week ending June 14, the number of initial claims for unemployment benefits decreased by 5,000 to 245,000 people, in line with the median forecast of economists. Data from the US Department of Labor on Wednesday showed that the number of continued jobless claims (a measure of the actual number of people receiving unemployment benefits) also slightly decreased to 1.95 million people in the previous week. Initial jobless claims in the United States remain at a high level for the year. Data often show volatility, especially during holidays or summer vacation periods. Overall, over the past two months, the number of people filing for unemployment benefits has continued to climb, reflecting a gradual slowdown in the labor market. The pace of hiring by companies has slowed down, with continued claims hovering near their highest levels since the end of 2021, indicating that it is taking longer for the unemployed to find new jobs. Economist Eliza Winger stated, "The signs of weakness are more evident in the continued claims for unemployment benefits, which have been on the rise. The current labor market environment is not one of mass layoffs, but rather a decrease in job vacancies, fewer new hires, and prolonged unemployment." The market generally expects Federal Reserve officials to maintain interest rates at their meeting later on Wednesday, while assessing the impact of President Trump's tariff policies and other measures. So far, the transmission effect of the tariff increases on consumer prices remains limited. The four-week moving average, used to smooth out data fluctuations, rose to 245,500 people, reaching a new high since August 2023. Before seasonal adjustment, the number of initial jobless claims decreased last week. Illinois, California, and Georgia saw the most significant declines. Multiple data points this week indicate a cooling demand in various sectors of the economy. Another report on Wednesday showed that US housing starts in May fell to the lowest level since the outbreak of the pandemic.