FX.co ★ US Jobless Claims Hold Unchanged

Initial jobless claims in the US were unchanged from the previous week at 213,000 in the final week of February, slightly below market expectations of 215,000 and remaining well under the averages of the past two years. Meanwhile, continuing jobless claims — a proxy for ongoing unemployment — rose by 46,000 in the preceding week to 1,868,000, exceeding market forecasts of 1,850,000. Overall, the data continued to signal a stable US labor market, characterized by low levels of firings alongside a slowdown in hiring. Initial claims filed by federal employees, which have been closely watched as investors assess the potential impact of government shutdowns, declined by 25 to 529.