U.S. Jobless Claims Exceed Market Forecasts

Initial jobless claims in the U.S. for the week ending January 24 came in at 209,000, surpassing the consensus projection of 205,000. According to NS3.AI data, the prior week’s figures were also adjusted higher—moving from an initial reading of 200,000 to a revised 210,000.

This uptick in weekly claims suggests a slight softening in labor market conditions, departing from economists’ more optimistic expectations. While the increases remain modest, they signal that employment growth may be moderating from recent trends. The back-to-back weeks of stronger jobless claims will likely warrant closer monitoring as markets assess whether underlying labor demand is beginning to cool.