(Department of Labor) US jobless claims were 202,000 in the week ending March 26, up by 14,000 from the previous week. The claims were higher than estimates of 196,000.
On a four-week moving average, the claims fell by 3,500 to 208,500.
The continuing claims ended the week to March 19 at 1.307 million, down by 35,000 from the previous week. The claims were at the lowest level since December 27, 1969.
The initial claims under state programs totaled 195,460 in the week to March 26, up by 7.2% or 13,121 from the previous week. The increase defied expectations of a decline of 0.4% or 777.
The continuing claims under state programs fell by 2.7% or 46,306 to 1.676 million. The decline was higher than expected fall of 0.7% or 11,326.
Initial claims rose the highest in Florida, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Connecticut. The largest declines in initial claims were in California, Michigan Kentucky, Kansas, and Illinois.
SPY is down -0.30%, DXY is up +0.62%.
