In the week ending May 31, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 247,000, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised down by 1,000 from 240,000 to 239,000. The 4-week moving average was 235,000, an increase of 4,500 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised down by 250 from 230,750 to 230,500. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.2 percent for the week ending May 24, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the previous week's unrevised rate. The advance number for ... (full story)

The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits last week increased for a second straight week, pointing to softening labor market conditions amid mounting economic headwinds from tariffs. Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 8,000 to a seasonally adjusted 247,000 for the week ended May 31, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 235,000 claims for the latest week. Companies are generally hoarding workers after struggling to find labor during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, but mounting uncertainty because of President Donald Trump's ... (full story)