The number of initial jobless claims in the US rose by 9,000 to 200,000 for the week ending November 7, exceeding the median economist forecast of 194,000. The figure for the previous week was also revised upward from 189,000 to 191,000, while the four-week moving average stood at 195,250 claims.
Meanwhile, continuing claims fell by 20,000 to 1.697 million for the week ending October 31. The combination of an increase in initial claims and a decline in continuing claims suggests that the US labor market remains relatively solid, even as signs of easing begin to emerge.