US Jobless Claims Fell Last Week During Holiday Season Volatility

  • New filings have fluctuated over past month, remain fairly low
  • Recurring claims, however, have trended up this year

An attendee places their resume in a drop box at the Albany Job Fair in Latham, New York.

Photographer: Angus Mordant/Bloomberg
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Applications for US unemployment benefits fell last week after spiking earlier this month, continuing a streak of volatility that often occurs during the holiday season.

Initial claims decreased by 22,000 to 220,000 in the week ended Dec. 14. The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for 230,000 applications.