The U.S. Department of Labor announced on May 22 (local time) that the number of new unemployment benefit claims filed during the week of May 11 to 17 was 227,000, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week. This figure is slightly below the forecast of 230,000 by experts surveyed by Dow Jones.
The number of continuing unemployment benefit claims, which represents those who have filed for benefits for more than two weeks, was 1,903,000 for the week of May 4 to 10, an increase of 36,000 from the previous week.
Despite some concerns that the U.S. economy could enter a recession, unemployment benefit claims, which serve as an indicator of changes in labor market conditions, have remained at relatively low levels.
As concerns grow that the tariff policies of the Donald Trump administration could increase the unemployment rate, Wall Street is paying close attention to labor market indicators that reflect trends in the real economy.
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