AI Data Insight
The latest US initial jobless claims for Q4 came in at 197,000 for the week, flat compared to the previous reading and better than the market expectation of 200,000. Although companies' willingness to expand their workforce has declined, layoffs have reached relatively historic lows, presenting a "low-hire, low-fire" situation. However, a rebound in continuing claims suggests increasing difficulty for the unemployed to find new jobs, warranting attention to whether long-term consumption momentum will be pressured.