Initial claims edge down to 197,000 as continuing claims fall to 1.70 million

Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell by 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 197,000 in the week ending September 26, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The previous week was revised up by 1,000 to 198,000.

The four-week average fell to 200,000. That was 2,500 below the revised prior average.

Continuing claims fell too. The seasonally adjusted count declined by 11,000 to 1.701 million in the week ending September 19, while the insured unemployment rate held at 1.1 percent.

Unadjusted initial claims totaled 156,738. The comparable week of 2025 had 179,162.