Initial claims for the week ended June 13 were slightly above forecasts, continuing claims reached 1.81 million, and the Philadelphia Fed’s June factory gauge returned to expansion from a negative prior reading.
U.S. initial jobless claims totaled 226,000 in the week ended June 13, versus expectations of 225,000, while the prior week was revised to 230,000 from 229,000. Continuing claims reached 1.81 million, indicating more people remained on benefits even as the labor market stayed broadly steady. Separately, the Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index rose to 10.3 in June from -0.4, above the forecast of 10, signaling an improvement in regional factory activity. Together, the data suggested resilient labor conditions alongside some softer underlying momentum, a mix investors may watch for its implications for Federal Reserve policy and broader financial markets.