The number of Americans currently receiving unemployment benefits declined to a two-year low, sending mixed signals about employment conditions across the U.S. economy.
For the week ending March 14, continuing jobless claims fell to 1.819 million from the previous week’s downwardly revised 1.851 million, according to new Department of Labor data released on March 26.
This represented the lowest reading since January 2024 and came in below economists’ expectations of 1.85 million.
Economic observers pay attention to recurring claims because they can serve as a proxy for the difficulty of employment conditions for unemployed individuals.
It can also signal that Americans’ jobless benefits have been exhausted since many states cap eligibility at 26 weeks….