US initial jobless claims fall to 208,000, below market expectations

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell by about 10,000 to 208,000 in the week ended July 11, 2026, below analysts' forecast of around 218,000. Released Thursday, July 16 by the US Labor Department, it is the lowest reading in several weeks and another sign the US labor market remains firm. The four-week moving average eased to about 214,250.

Continuing claims for the week ended July 4 fell by 16,000 to roughly 1.805 million, with the insured unemployment rate steady at 1.2 percent. A resilient labor market gives the Federal Reserve more room to keep interest rates higher for longer, a factor that reaches Iran's market through the global dollar and gold.