US Jobless Claims Hit Lowest Level Since Mid-july at 189,000
WHO:
ABC News - The U.S. Department of Labor reported the unemployment-claims figures.
ABC News - Employers include companies, government agencies, and nonprofits.
ABC News - The Labor Department is scheduled to release October hiring figures on Friday.
Bloomberg Markets - Enda Curran reported on Bloomberg Television.
WHAT:
Bloomberg Markets - U.S. employers announced the fewest October job cuts since 2023, while hiring plans increased as companies prepared for the holiday-shopping season.
Wolf Street - The four-week average of initial unemployment-benefit applications was 194,700, the lowest since 1969, according to the Labor Department.
Wolf Street - Federal and state governments shed 328,000 and 53,000 workers, respectively, since January 2025.
Wolf Street - Continued claims reached 1.72 million, with the four-week average at 1.71 million.
Wolf Street - The article reported that continued claims had declined since late 2025 as people spent less time unemployed before finding new jobs.
ABC News - 189,000 people applied for unemployment benefits, down from 195,000 the previous week; this was the fewest claims since mid-July.
Bloomberg Markets - Applications for U.S. unemployment benefits fell by 6,000 to 189,000.
ABC News - The four-week average of claims dipped to 194,750.
Bloomberg Markets - Continuing claims rose by 23,000.
ABC News - Claims had never topped 230,000 in a single week during the year to date and had been at or below 200,000 for eight straight weeks.
ABC News - Employers added an average of 68,000 jobs per month during the year to date, including 29,000 last month.
ABC News - Monthly job creation averaged 9,700 in 2025.
ABC News - A FactSet survey of forecasters projected 65,000 jobs added in October and unemployment remaining at 4.2%.
ABC News - Consumer spending remained resilient, and investment in artificial intelligence surged, lifting economic growth.
WHERE:
ABC News - The Labor Department’s report was issued in Washington.
Bloomberg Markets - The claims figures concerned the United States.
WHEN:
ABC News - The Labor Department reported the claims on Thursday; the article described them as covering the previous week.
Bloomberg Markets - Continuing claims rose for the week ending Oct. 31.
ABC News - The hiring report for October was expected on Friday.
WHY:
Wolf Street - The article attributed a declining labor force and relatively tight labor market to reduced labor supply amid immigration enforcement.
ABC News - Unemployment applications serve as a proxy for layoffs, and economists monitor them for signs about the direction of the job market.
ABC News - High interest rates and President Trump’s unpredictable trade policies discouraged hiring in 2025.
(UPDATED November 5, 2026 22:13 UTC)
Unemployment-benefit applications fell to 189,000, their lowest since mid-July. Employers announced October’s fewest job cuts since 2023. The Labor Department’s jobs report is expected Friday.
--
(UPDATED November 5, 2026 15:04 UTC)
U.S. unemployment-benefit applications fell to 189,000, the lowest since mid-July. Continuing claims rose by 23,000, while the Labor Department prepares to report October hiring Friday. Forecasters projected 65,000 jobs added.