FX.co ★ US Jobless Claims Fall Amid Holiday Volatility

In the week ending December 27, initial jobless claims in the United States decreased by 16,000, reaching 199,000. This period is often marked by fluctuations due to the holiday season. The figures were substantially lower than market predictions, which anticipated 220,000 claims. Excluding the typically volatile Thanksgiving week, when claims briefly fell to a three-year low of 192,000, this was the lowest level observed since January. Additionally, continuing claims dropped to 1.89 million in the week ending December 20, showing a decrease from a previously adjusted figure of 1.91 million in the previous week. On a related note, initial unemployment claims filed by federal employees increased slightly to 812 from 805 in the week ending December 13, a statistic garnering attention amid the federal government shutdown.