18.12.202513:30:00UTC+00U.S. Continuing Jobless Claims Edge Up to 1.897 Million

In the latest update released on December 18, 2025, the U.S. reported a slight increase in continuing jobless claims. The new figures show that the number of Americans continuing to claim unemployment benefits has risen to 1.897 million, up from the previous figure of 1.838 million.

This increase in jobless claims suggests a potential cooling in the labor market despite earlier signals of economic resilience. The uptick could be driven by several factors, including economic shifts during the holiday season or structural changes in key industries. The data will likely be closely analyzed by policymakers and economists to gauge its impact on broader economic policies and forecasts.

The growth in jobless claims might warrant attention from Federal Reserve officials as they balance efforts to curb inflation with sustaining employment levels. Analysts will be looking closely at upcoming data releases to determine if this increase is a temporary fluctuation or the start of a longer trend in rising unemployment rates.