US Jobless Claims Fall to Two-Month Low

U.S. jobless claims fell by 9,000 to 215,000 for the week ending April 12, beating analyst forecasts of 225,000 and marking a two-month low. The four-week moving average also declined to 220,750, highlighting a trend of low layoffs that have mostly ranged between 200,000 and 250,000 in recent years. Continuing claims rose by 41,000 to 1.89 million, suggesting some volatility in longer-term unemployment. Economists warn that ongoing trade tensions and tariff uncertainties are causing business hesitancy in hiring, which could affect future employment numbers. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell noted increased uncertainty and signaled that labor market progress may slow in the near term. Despite concerns, no evidence yet indicates that trade wars or government layoffs are causing widespread job losses.