actual 225.5, previous 224.25
The event is the Jobless Claims 4-week Average report for the United States, scheduled for December 19, 2024, at 13:30 GMT. The actual value reported is 225.5K, which is higher than the previous value of 224.25K. The market consensus estimate was 220K, so the actual value came in slightly higher than expected.
This economic indicator is considered to have a high impact on the market as it provides insights into the labor market's health. A higher number of jobless claims could indicate a weakening labor market and economic conditions, which may have implications for consumer spending and overall economic growth.
In this case, the slight increase in the 4-week average of jobless claims may be interpreted as a slightly negative signal for the economy, as more people are filing for unemployment benefits. However, the change percentage is relatively small at 0.557%, so the impact may be limited. Traders and investors will likely monitor this data point closely for any potential trends in the labor market.