Fresh labor data showed initial claims at 210,000 and continuing claims falling to 1.819 million, reinforcing expectations that the Federal Reserve may keep rates steady despite inflation risks.
U.S. initial jobless claims rose by 5,000 to 210,000 in the week ended March 21, while continuing jobless claims fell by 32,000 to 1.819 million in the week ended March 14, the lowest level since May 2024. The combined labor-market data pointed to continued resilience in employment conditions and may give the Federal Reserve more room to keep interest rates unchanged even as Middle East-related inflation risks remain in focus.