U.S. initial jobless claims rose 9,000 to 209,000 in the week ended Aug. 8, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday, vs a median estimate of 202,000. Claims remain near historic lows; the increase may reflect typical summer volatility from seasonal hiring patterns and holiday scheduling. Economists said they will wait for more weekly readings before reassessing the recent stability of the labor market.

2026-08-13

U.S. initial jobless claims rose 9,000 to 209,000 in the week ended Aug. 8, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday, vs a median estimate of 202,000. Claims remain near historic lows; the increase may reflect typical summer volatility from seasonal hiring patterns and holiday scheduling. Economists said they will wait for more weekly readings before reassessing the recent stability of the labor market.