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Release · 2026-09-24 to 2026-09-24

Initial jobless claims were 197,000 in the week ended September 19

The Labor Department said the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment insurance claims was 197,000 in the week ending September 19, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 2,000 from 196,000 to 198,000. The four-week moving average was 202,250, a decrease of 1,750 from the previous week's revised average of 204,000. Seasonally adjusted insured unemployment was 1,719,000 in the week ending September 12, after 1,717,000 in the week ending September 5.

Initial jobless claims, seasonally adjusted
197,000 2026-09-19 · prior 198,000 (2026-09-12)
Four-week moving average of initial claims
202,250 2026-09-19 · prior 204,000 (2026-09-12)
Continuing claims, seasonally adjusted
1,719,000 2026-09-12 · prior 1,717,000 (2026-09-05)

Source: Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report — U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Also: Initial Claims (ICSA), 4-Week Moving Average of Initial Claims (IC4WSA), Continued Claims (Insured Unemployment) (CCSA), Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims (PDF).

all 3 figures found at the source
  • found Initial jobless claims, seasonally adjusted = 197,000 — via FRED ICSA
  • found Four-week moving average of initial claims = 202,250 — via FRED IC4WSA
  • found Continuing claims, seasonally adjusted = 1,719,000 — via FRED CCSA

Researched by Grok, checked against each source by an automated pass, edited by Clem Ziroli III. Published Sep 24, 2026.

This page is one print. The daily brief for September 24, 2026 is the editor's cut of what mattered that day. Figures are as the named sources printed them. The methodology says how this page is made and what is checked.