U.S. Jobless Claims Fall to 213,000, Beating Expectations

Employers continue to retain workers despite inflation and high interest rates, reflecting a stable labor market.

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits decreased by 7,000 to 213,000 for the week ending February 8, surpassing analysts' expectations of 215,000.
The four-week average of claims, which smooths out fluctuations, edged down by 1,000 to 216,000.
The total number of people receiving unemployment benefits dropped by 36,000 to 1.85 million during the week of February 1, indicating fewer layoffs and stable hiring trends.
Economists note that while layoffs remain low, job opportunities for those unemployed have become less abundant compared to previous years.
The Federal Reserve has paused interest rate cuts as it evaluates the economic impact of prior rate hikes and policy decisions.