First Time Jobless Claims Up 2K

Jobless claims are steady at historically low levels in further confirmation of the strength of the U.S. labor market. Initial claims edged only 2,000 higher in the August 27 week to 263,000 which is also the level of the 4-week average.

Continuing claims are likewise steady and very low, up 14,000 in lagging data for the August 20 week to 2.159 million with the 4-week average up 5,000 to 2.160 million. The unemployment rate for insured workers is unchanged at a near record low of 1.6 percent.

There are no special factors in today's report, one that points to solid gains for tomorrow's employment report.

Recent History Of This Indicator:
Initial jobless claims are expected to hold steady in the August 27 week, at a consensus 265,000 vs 261,000 in the prior week and in line with the 4-week average of 264,000. Readings throughout this report have been consistently low and pointing to low levels of layoffs and healthy conditions in the labor market.