US initial jobless claims rose to 197,000, still below market expectations

US Department of Labor data released on Thursday, 30 July 2026, showed initial claims for unemployment benefits reached 197,000 in the week ending 25 July. That is 9,000 higher than the previous week, which at 188,000 marked the lowest level in 57 years, but still below the median market expectation of 200,000.

Continuing claims, seen as a gauge of ongoing unemployment, fell by 7,000 in the week ending 18 July to 1,782,000, below the market expectation of 1,800,000 and the lowest in more than a month. The four-week average of initial claims also fell to 202,750 from 207,750. Initial claims filed by federal employees declined by 52 to 418.

The data came one day after the Federal Reserve held its policy rate and points to a still-tight labour market. Alongside inflation, that is one of the factors shaping the US interest rate path and therefore the value of the dollar and the global gold price.