Weekly Initial Unemployment Claims Increase to 263,000; Highest Since 2021

by Calculated Risk on 9/11/2025 08:30:00 AM

The DOL reported:

In the week ending September 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 263,000, an increase of
27,000 from the previous week’s revised level. This is the highest level for initial claims since October 23, 2021 when it
was 268,000. The previous week’s level was revised down by 1,000 from 237,000 to 236,000. The 4-week moving
average was 240,500, an increase of 9,750 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous week’s average was
revised down by 250 from 231,000 to 230,750.
emphasis added

The following graph shows the 4-week moving average of weekly claims since 1971.

The dashed line on the graph is the current 4-week average. The four-week average of weekly unemployment claims increased to 240,500.

The previous week was revised down.

Weekly claims were well above the consensus forecast.