Initial claims for state unemployment benefits slipped 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 213,000 for the week ended March 7, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 215,000 claims for the latest week. They remain at levels consistent with a stable labour market. The US-Israeli war with Iran, which has boosted oil and gasoline prices, poses a downside risk to the labour market, economists said. Last year's jobless college graduates are not included in the claims data because they have limited or no work history, disqualifying them from claiming unemployment benefits.

Source: The Edge Markets March 12, 2026 13:00 UTC