Data Desk · Weekly release
Jobless claims fell to 196,000 in the week to Sep 12, 2026
The number of people who filed for unemployment benefits for the first time in the past week. It is one of the few labour-market readings that arrives weekly rather than monthly.
| This release | 196,000 |
|---|---|
| Previous (Sep 5, 2026) | 206,000 |
| Change | −10,000 |
Read from FRED series
ICSA,
which republishes the U.S. Department of Labor release unchanged.
What this measures
The number of people who filed for unemployment benefits for the first time in the past week. It is one of the few labour-market readings that arrives weekly rather than monthly.
Why it matters
Because it is weekly and barely revised, it is the earliest reliable signal that hiring conditions are turning. Economists generally watch the four-week average rather than any single week.
What to be careful about
Individual weeks are distorted by holidays, seasonal industries and one-off events such as strikes or severe weather.
Recent readings
| Period | Initial jobless claims |
|---|---|
| Jun 27, 2026 | 217,000 |
| Jul 4, 2026 | 217,000 |
| Jul 11, 2026 | 209,000 |
| Jul 18, 2026 | 189,000 |
| Jul 25, 2026 | 198,000 |
| Aug 1, 2026 | 200,000 |
| Aug 8, 2026 | 212,000 |
| Aug 15, 2026 | 207,000 |
| Aug 22, 2026 | 204,000 |
| Aug 29, 2026 | 207,000 |
| Sep 5, 2026 | 206,000 |
| Sep 12, 2026 | 196,000 |