USA: Weekly unemployment benefit claims fall to 202,000 compared to the expected 220,000

  • Weekly jobless claims decreased by 19,000 in the week ending Dec. 9, the lowest level in eight weeks.
  • Continuing claims increased to 1,876,000 in the week ending December 2.
  • The Dollar Index pared losses, recovering from four-month lows following the latest US reports.

In the week ending December 9 220,000 initial applications for unemployment benefits were registered, according to weekly data released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Labor. This figure improves the previous figure, which was 221,000 (revised from 220,000) and exceeded market expectations, which expected 220,000. It’s about the lowest figure since mid-October.

In the week ending December 2, applications for continued unemployment benefits increased by 20,000, to 1,876,000.

Market reaction

The US dollar rose after the retail sales report and weekly jobless claims figures were released. The Dollar Index (DXY) recovered ground from its lowest level since August. The DXY bottomed earlier at 102.27 and after the data reached levels at 102.55.

Source: Fx Street

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