Initial Jobless Claims by Country
Latest released Initial Jobless Claims value for every supported currency, with the previous reading, the change between releases, reference date, frequency, unit, and source.
/api/v1/announcements/{currency}/initial_jobless_claims. Non-USD endpoints require an API key query parameter.| Country / Currency | Latest | Previous | Change | Reference | Frequency | Unit | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
United States
USD · US Dollar
|
189,000
25 Apr 2026
|
215,000
18 Apr 2026
|
▼ -26,000 | 25 Apr 2026 | Weekly | Thousands | FRED (DOL) |
What is Initial Jobless Claims?
Initial jobless claims count the number of people who filed new applications for unemployment-insurance benefits in a week. The US series, published every Thursday, is the single highest-frequency labour-market indicator in global markets.
Why it matters for FX
Claims provide a real-time read on layoff dynamics that monthly labour reports cannot match. A sustained rise in the four-week moving average above ~250-300k (US) historically precedes recessions and forces dovish Fed pricing — both USD-negative.
How to read this page
Use the four-week moving average rather than the volatile weekly print. Continuing claims (one-week-lagged) capture duration of unemployment and confirm trends.
What to watch for
- Four-week moving average trend
- Continuing claims for duration signal
- Holiday and seasonal-adjustment distortions
- State-level concentration of claims
- Cross-check with monthly NFP and unemployment