U.S. jobless claims rose last week for the first time since the initial pandemic-induced surge in March, signaling a labor-market stall just as federal aid winds down for people and companies.
Initial claims through regular state programs increased to 1.42 million in the week ended July 18, up 109,000 from the prior week, a Labor Department report showed Thursday; on a non-seasonally adjusted basis, claims declined. There were 16.2 million who filed for ongoing benefits through those programs in the period ended July 11, down from the prior week and less than forecast.
Economists in a Bloomberg survey had forecast 1.3 million initial claims, little changed from the prior week, with projections ranging from 1 million to 1.55 million.
U.S. stock futures pared gains after the figures, which indicate layoffs are rising as a bloom in coronavirus cases prompts states to pause or reverse reopenings. Other challenges for the labor market include the imminent potential expiration of supplemental federal jobless benefits, and the widespread struggles of businesses that rely on in-person interaction.
Initial claims in California -- the most populous state and a hotspot for the virus -- rose on an unadjusted basis last week. Other states with increases included Alabama, Connecticut, Nevada and Tennessee. Declines were reported in Florida, Georgia, Texas and New Jersey.
Other data this week underscore the potential for a worsening labor market. The Census Bureau's weekly Household Pulse survey showed the number of employed Americans dropped by about 6.7 million from mid-June through mid-July, the majority of that in the second week of July from the first.
