| Source | |
| Measures | The number of individuals who filed for unemployment insurance for the first time during the past week; |
| Usual Effect | 'Actual' less than 'Forecast' is good for currency; |
| Frequency | Released weekly, usually on the first Thursday after the week ends; |
| Next Release | |
| FF Notes | This is the nation's earliest economic data. The market impact fluctuates from week to week - there tends to be more focus on the release when traders need to diagnose recent developments, or when the reading is at extremes; |
Why Traders
Care | Although it's generally viewed as a lagging indicator, the number of unemployed people is an important signal of overall economic health because consumer spending is highly correlated with labor-market conditions. Unemployment is also a major consideration for those steering the country's monetary policy; |
| Also Called | Jobless Claims, Initial Claims; |
