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Posted on 02/19/2026 9:02:29 PM PST by SeekAndFind
The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, consistent with a stabilizing labor market.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits dropped 23,000 to a seasonally adjusted 206,0000 for the week ended February 14, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 225,000 claims for the latest week. Last week's drop marked a signficant decline in claims since they jumped to 232,000 at the end of January.
The number of people filing new claims fell to 206,000 in the most recent week.
Minutes of the Federal Reserve's January 27-28 policy meeting published on Wednesday showed the "vast majority of participants judged that labor market conditions had been showing some signs of stabilization." Still, concerns over downside risks to the labor market remained.
The minutes also noted some policymakers "pointed to the possibility that a further fall in labor demand could push the unemployment rate sharply higher in a low-hiring environment or that the concentration of job gains in a few less cyclically sensitive sectors was potentially signaling heightened vulnerability in the overall labor market."
The claims data covered the week during which the government surveyed employers for the nonfarm payrolls portion of February's employment report. Job growth accelerated in January, though nearly all the employment gains came from the healthcare and social assistance sector.
Policymakers and economists say immigration policies were constraining job growth. Lingering uncertainty from import tariffs remained a drag on hiring while artificial intelligence was also adding another layer of caution, economists said.
The number of people receiving unemployment benefits after an initial week of aid, a proxy for hiring, increased 17,000 to a seasonally 1.869 million during the week ended February 7, the claims report showed.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
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Trump’s fault.
Should be a real bull market tomorrow.
Amazing how deporting a bunch of illegals opens jobs for citizens.
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