US initial jobless claims, 1967 to 2026
About this statistic
US initial jobless claims stood at 222,500 in 2026, up 5.2% on the previous period.
US initial jobless claims, published through FRED. Since 1967 the series has ranged from 181,200 (1969) to 4.7 million (2020); the latest reading is 222,500 for 2026, up from 211,600 the period before.
Monthly macro series carry the cycle in their shape: recessions appear as cliffs or spikes depending on the measure, and the decade stripes make it easy to place each episode. The level matters less than the turns.
Frequently asked questions
Where does this data come from?
FRED aggregates official series; this one originates with the responsible federal statistical agency. Kitegraph refreshes it on FRED's publication schedule.
Are values revised?
Yes. Statistical agencies revise recent readings as fuller data arrives, so the latest points can change between releases.
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