US Jobless Claims Fall to 194,000, Lowest Since Mid-July

Initial unemployment claims fell to 194,000 last week, down from a revised 195,000 the prior week and the lowest level since mid-July, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The four-week average, which smooths week-to-week volatility, dropped to 196,750. Claims have stayed at historically low levels throughout the year, never exceeding 230,000 in any single week and holding at or below 200,000 for seven consecutive weeks. Employers have added an average of 68,000 jobs a month this year, including a disappointing 29,000 last month, improving on 2025's lackluster 9,700 monthly average, when high interest rates and President Donald Trump's unpredictable trade policies discouraged hiring. Consumer spending has stayed resilient, and a surge in artificial intelligence investment has lifted growth. The Labor Department releases October hiring data next Friday, Nov. 6; FactSet forecasters expect a gain of 55,000 jobs.