For the week ending October 19, initial claims for U.S. unemployment benefits, seasonally adjusted, decreased by 15,000 to 227,000, according to the latest report.
For the week ending October 19, initial claims for U.S. unemployment benefits, seasonally adjusted, decreased by 15,000 to 227,000, according to the latest report. This marks a notable drop from the previous week's revised figure of 242,000, which had been adjusted upward by 1,000. Despite this decline, the four-week moving average rose to 238,500, reflecting a 2,000 increase from the previous week's revised average of 236,500.
In addition, the advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate for the week ending October 12 climbed to 1.3%, up by 0.1 percentage points from the prior week. The number of insured unemployed individuals reached 1,897,000, an increase of 28,000 from the previous week's revised total of 1,869,000. This represents the highest level of insured unemployment since November 2021, when the figure stood at 1,974,000. The four-week moving average for insured unemployment also increased, rising to 1,860,750, up by 17,500 from the prior week's revised average.
These figures suggest a mixed labor market picture, with initial claims decreasing but longer-term unemployment metrics continuing to rise.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor
The U.S. dollar gained traction Monday after the U.S. and China agreed to pause retaliatory tariffs for 90 days, prompting a gap lower in EUR/USD to 1.1064. Meanwhile, Moody’s downgraded the U.S. credit rating, citing fiscal concerns, sparking risk aversion and supporting safe-haven assets like gold and the yen.
DetailThe U.S. dollar held near 100.8, heading for a 0.6% weekly gain as weak data increased Fed cut bets. The euro rebounded to $1.12 on firm inflation and ECB cut hopes. The pound hovered near $1.32 as UK jobs data raised BoE cut odds. The yen rose toward 145 despite Japan’s 0.2% GDP drop, with the BoJ staying cautious.
Detail Gold and Silver Diverge as Risk Appetite Returns (05.16.2025)The euro advanced near $1.12 as the dollar softened, even as ECB rate cut bets remained firmly priced in. The yen strengthened for a fourth straight day despite a contraction in Japan’s Q1 GDP.
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