Weekly Jobless Claims Fall to 189,000

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell by 6,000 from the previous week, when claims totaled 195,000. The four-week average also edged down, reaching 194,750.

Claims have stayed below 230,000 in every week so far this year and have been no higher than 200,000 for eight consecutive weeks. The figures are used as an indicator of layoffs and can offer clues about the direction of the labor market.

Employers have added an average of 68,000 jobs per month this year. Last month’s gain was 29,000. That pace remains modest by historical standards, but it is stronger than in 2025, when average monthly job growth was 9,700. High interest rates and President Donald Trump’s shifting trade policies weighed on hiring last year.

Consumer spending has held up, while increased investment in artificial intelligence has supported economic growth. The Labor Department is scheduled to publish October’s employment figures on November 6. Forecasters surveyed by FactSet expect a gain of 65,000 jobs and unemployment to hold at 4.2%.