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By Robert Hughes
Initial claims for regular state unemployment insurance fell 2,000 for the week ending August 20th, coming in at 243,000. The previous week’s 245,000 was revised down from the initial tally of 250,000 (see first chart). Claims have remained in a range of 230,000 to 261,000 for twelve consecutive weeks. When measured as a percentage of nonfarm payrolls, claims came in at 0.171 percent for the month of July, up from 0.152 in June and a record low of 0.117 in March, but still very low (see second chart).
The four-week average rose to 247,000, up 1,500 from the prior week. After showing a sustained upward trend since a recent low in early April, the four-week average may be flattening. Overall, the data continue to suggest a tight labor market. However, continued elevated rates of price increases, an aggressive Fed tightening cycle, and fallout from the Russian invasion of Ukraine represent risks to the economic outlook.
The number of ongoing claims for state unemployment programs totaled 1.421 million for the week ending August 6th, a drop of 33,647 from the prior week (see third chart). State continuing claims had been trending higher but now appear to be relatively flat over the last several weeks (see third chart).
The latest results for the combined Federal and state programs put the total number of people claiming benefits in all unemployment programs at 1.449 million for the week ended August 6th, a decrease of 32,948 from the prior week. The latest result is the twenty-sixth week in a row below 2 million.
Initial claims remain at a very low level by historical comparison, but the recent upward trend was suggesting that, on the margin, the labor market has begun to loosen. That trend is now somewhat suspect.
Weekly initial claims for unemployment insurance is an AIER leading indicator and remained a favorable contributor in the July update. However, if the recent upward trend were to resume, it would likely turn to a neutral position in upcoming updates.
While the overall low level of claims combined with the high number of open jobs suggests the labor market remains solid, both measures show signs of softening. The tight labor market is a crucial component of the economy, providing support for consumer spending. However, persistently elevated rates of price increases already weigh on consumer attitudes, and if consumers lose confidence in the labor market, they may significantly reduce spending. The outlook remains highly uncertain.
Editor’s Note: The summary bullets for this article were chosen by Seeking Alpha editors.
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