Initial Claims (4wk avg) stands at 195k as of October 31, 2026, down from 227k a year earlier. The reading sits in the 2nd percentile of its history back to 1967.
| Latest (October 31, 2026) | 195k |
| One year ago | 227k |
| 10-year range | 195k – 5,288k |
| All-time range | 179k (1969) – 5,288k (2020) |
| Standing | Lowest since 1969 |
| Change over 12 months | −32k |
| Percentile vs. full history | 2nd |
| History | 1967–2026 (3119 observations) |
Initial jobless claims, 4-week average. The most timely labor-market indicator available (weekly). Low and falling claims signal a tight labor market; a sustained rise of ~15-20% off the cycle low has historically been an early recession warning.
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<a href="https://www.tacticalassetallocation.com/charts/initial-jobless-claims/">Initial Claims (4wk avg) — Cambria Chart Lab</a>
Data: download CSV (source: FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)).