Labor Department data show initial U.S. jobless claims unexpectedly fell to 198,000 for the week ended Jan. 10, a decline of 9,000 from the prior week's revised 207,000. Analysts caution that weekly claims are prone to seasonal volatility and holiday distortions, which can produce sharp swings in headline readings. Looking through the noise, we see no signs that labor market conditions are worsening. The claims data offer no reason to change our outlook for the economy or Fed policy." The claims data arrive against a backdrop of cooling payrolls and a still-elevated unemployment rate.

Source: ABC News January 15, 2026 22:02 UTC