US Jobless Claims Jump in Week Impacted by Severe Weather

Bloomberg Markets and Finance | February 05, 2026 at 03:00 PM UTC
Bearish 90% Confidence
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Key Points

  • US jobless claims rose to 231,000 in the week ending January 31, higher than the estimated 212,000.
  • The initial claims four-week moving average is 212,250.
  • Continuing claims also rose to 1,844,000.
  • Challenger job cut announcements in January totaled 108,435, the most since 2009.

AI Summary

The report highlights a significant jump in US jobless claims to 231,000 in the last week of January, exceeding the estimated 212,000. This increase, along with a rise in continuing claims and high Challenger job cuts, suggests a potential weakening in the labor market, which could be a concerning new trend.

Model Analysis Breakdown

Model Sentiment Confidence
Gemini 2.5 Flash Bearish 90%
Consensus Bearish 90%