U.S. Initial Jobless Claims

Initial claims is the number of people who filed for unemployment benefits for the first time that week. It’s the most timely jobs indicator we have — readings consistently above 300,000 (national) usually mean rising layoffs.

• If you’re between jobs, file for unemployment insurance the same week you’re laid off — backdated claims can cost you weeks of benefits.
• Employers facing layoffs over 50 workers should file a WARN notice with their state labor/workforce agency at least 60 days ahead (federal WARN Act minimum).
• Watch the 4-week moving average — it smooths out holiday spikes and shows the underlying trend.