Initial Claims
New applications for state unemployment insurance in the week, from the Department of Labor. Dated by the week ending Saturday.
197,0002026-10-03
Number, seasonally adjusted
Why it matters
The most timely read on layoffs. A sustained rise is one of the earliest recession signals; single weeks are noisy, especially around holidays.
Release schedule: Weekly, Thursday 8:30 am ET (DOL)
Recent readings
| Period | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-03 | 197,000 | −2,000 |
| 2026-09-26 | 199,000 | +1,000 |
| 2026-09-19 | 198,000 | +0 |
| 2026-09-12 | 198,000 | −9,000 |
| 2026-09-05 | 207,000 | +0 |
| 2026-08-29 | 207,000 | +3,000 |
| 2026-08-22 | 204,000 | −3,000 |
| 2026-08-15 | 207,000 | −5,000 |
| 2026-08-08 | 212,000 | +12,000 |
| 2026-08-01 | 200,000 | +2,000 |
| 2026-07-25 | 198,000 | +9,000 |
| 2026-07-18 | 189,000 | — |