States reported that 202,000 workers filed for
new unemployment benefits during the week ending Dec. 9, a decrease of 19,000 from the previous week's revised level. The weekly claims are consistent with a low level of layoffs. Over the past two years, the unemployment rate has remained under 4 percent, despite high interest rates and inflation.
About 1.87 million workers continue to claim unemployment benefits. That number has been generally on the rise since September, suggesting unemployed workers are having a harder time finding new jobs.
Claims data are volatile around this time of the year because of the holidays, making it difficult to get a clear signal on the labor market, according to economists.
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