Weekly jobless claims in the US increase slightly as producer prices surpass expectations.
The latest data from the Labor Department shows a slight increase in new applications for unemployment benefits in the U.S. last week, indicating that layoffs remain low even as the labor market slows down. Alongside this, producer prices rose slightly more than expected in August, driven by a rebound in the cost of services.
The reports suggest that the labor market is fairly stable, with Inflation remaining high. This has led to decreased expectations of a 50 basis point interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve next week. Analysts believe that the current economic conditions do not warrant a larger-than-expected rate cut.
Initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose by 2,000 to 230,000 for the week ending Sept. 7, in line with economist forecasts. Meanwhile, continuing claims, a proxy for hiring, increased slightly to 1.850 million. The overall trend in the labor market is slowing down as businesses scale back on hiring due to higher Interest rates.
In August, the producer price index for final demand rose 0.2%, with services prices accounting for the increase. However, goods prices remained unchanged, with energy prices dropping. Excluding food and energy components, goods prices climbed 0.2%.
Overall, the labor market and Inflation data suggest a steady but slowing economy, reducing the likelihood of a significant interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve next week. Financial markets have adjusted their expectations accordingly.
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Emma Collins, graduated in Financial Economics from the University of Chicago in the USA in 2016. She has since worked at an asset management firm in New York, where she specializes in investment strategies and portfolio management. Emma has a keen interest in financial analysis and has published several articles in renowned financial journals. Her work focuses on providing actionable insights to investors, and she is known for her forward-thinking approach to managing financial portfolios.