US Initial Jobless Claims Fall in Week Ended Oct. 31

08:37 AM EST, 11/05/2026 (MT Newswires) -- US initial jobless claims declined to a level of 189,000 in the week ended Oct. 31 from an upwardly revised 195,000 level in the previous week, compared with expectations for an increase to 196,000 in survey of analysts compiled by Bloomberg and the lowest level since the week ended July 18. The four-week moving average decreased by 2,250 to 194,750 after falling by 1,000 to a level of 197,000 in the previous week. Insured jobless claims rose by 23,000 to 1,718,000 in the week ended Oct. 24. The weekly initial jobless claims data released by the US Labor Department measures filings for unemployment insurance benefits. Initial filings are reported through the previous Saturday, while those already on benefits are measured with a one-week lag. A decrease in claims suggests a stronger labor market, a positive for the US economy and stocks, but a negative for bonds as it suggests wage growth that could lead to inflation.