What’s going on:
The Labor Department has announced that the amount of initial unemployment claims had plummeted to 190,000 last week — a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week, which illustrates a robust labor market.
Why it matters:
Despite the fact that there have been rumors of layoffs at big companies, including those in the tech sector, it has yet to be seen as a rise in jobless claims; the labor market is still incredibly strong, with reports showing that job postings have decreased and companies becoming more careful in their hiring practices.
The Federal Reserve is attempting to ease its anti-inflationary efforts by hiking interest rates, yet the labor market has thrown a spanner in the works with its astonishing 517,000 job addition in January, which has demonstrated the labor market’s strength beyond expectations, according to US News.
How it’ll impact the future:
Economists are divided between worrying that the economy is too robust, thereby requiring the Federal Reserve to maintain higher interest rates for an extended period, and fearing an economic downturn which may lead to lower inflation yet higher joblessness.