US initial jobless claims jumped 53k to 253k in the week ending January 26, well above expectation of 210k. That’s also the highest level since September 30, 2017. Four-week moving average of initial claims rose 5k to 220.25k.
Continuing claims rose 69k to 1.782M in the week ending January 19. It’s also the highest level since April 28, 2018. Four-week moving average of continuing claims rose 8k to 1.738M, highest since August 4, 2018.
Also from US, employment cost index rose 0.7% in Q4, below expectation of 0.8%.
