Initial Unemployment Claims Surge by 28,000 to a Post-Pandemic High of 261,000

Initial Claims Data from the Department of Labor, chart by Mish

Initial Claims Seasonally Adjusted 

  •  In the week ending June 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 261,000, an increase of 28,000 from the previous week’s revised level. 
  • This is the highest level for initial claims since October 30, 2021 when it was 264,000. 
  • The previous week’s level was revised up by 1,000 from 232,000 to 233,000. 

Initial Claims 4-Week Moving Average 

Initial Claims Data from the Department of Labor, chart by Mish

  • The 4-week moving average was 237,250, an increase of 7,500 from the previous week’s revised average. 
  • The previous week’s average was revised up by 250 from 229,500 to 229,750. 

Continued Unemployment Claims

Continued Unemployment Claims 4-Week Moving Average

Continued Claims Notes

  • Continued claims lag initial claims by a week. They are generally additive in weakening labor markets.
  • Curiously, continued claims fell this week and the 4-week moving average fell for the last two weeks.
  • Rather than any real improvement, it’s far more likely this is a summer impact of seasonal adjustments a bit  off base. 

I expect initial and continued claims to generally trend higher from here as Fed hikes finally take control. 

Right or wrong, the Fed wants a weakening labor market and perhaps it has finally arrived. 

Mortgage rates did not move on this weakness although treasury yields dropped a bit. The Mortgage News Daily average rate is 6.94 percent.

The Starter Home Is No More, Even in Second Tier Markets

Renters dreaming of homeownership are priced out of secondary cities they might’ve flocked to years ago.

The combination of high prices and high mortgage rates will also dampen the economy. 

For discussion, please see The Starter Home Is No More, Even in Second Tier Markets

This post originated on MishTalk.Com.

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Lisa_Hooker
Lisa_Hooker
10 months ago
Many gig and contract employees are not eligible for unemployment.
Numbers this size are more serious than they used to be.
xbizo
xbizo
10 months ago
Wake me when it hits 300,000…
Six000mileyear
Six000mileyear
10 months ago
During the Great Recession, it took 3 tears from the cycle low in initial claims to the peak. Initial claims bottomed a year ago, so peak could take place over the next two years.
Directed Energy
Directed Energy
10 months ago
Claims are still low, and will stay low from changing demographics. Too many Boomers retiring and not enough replacements.
ohno
ohno
10 months ago
Need to destroy jobs to fix things. What a twisted system. Either that or an abused one.
billybobjr
billybobjr
10 months ago
Reply to  ohno
Fed logic , we must destroy the economy with high interest rates (recession) In order to save the economy
from the high inflation from the too low interest rates we had for so long . Makes since to me !
xbizo
xbizo
10 months ago
Reply to  ohno
Yep. You CAN fix a supply problem by lowering demand, but increasing supply is the better solution.
RonJ
RonJ
10 months ago
“Right or wrong, the Fed wants a weakening labor market and perhaps it has finally arrived.”
The Maverick of Wall Street on YT, says that the only way the Fed can get back to 2% inflation, is a recession.
MPO45v2
MPO45v2
10 months ago
Reply to  RonJ
With 150,000+ boomers retiring each month I doubt a recession would do it, it will simply add more people to social security especially those on the edge of collecting.
Bank of Canada and Australia raised interest rates again after a pause because inflation out of control. Canada has 300,000 immigrants coming in yearly and not enough houses for them all.
Christoball
Christoball
10 months ago
Reply to  MPO45v2
Excess immigration is always an ecological and social disaster. For some too much immigration is not enough and they feel everyone should own one.
Matt3
Matt3
10 months ago
Reply to  RonJ
I think inflation is with us for a significant amount of time. Eventually, they will adjust the calculations to get back to the 2% target. I still think that real inflation will remain above interest rates and we will monetized the debt and experience stagflation. As such, I want to won real assets that will move up with inflation.

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