Economy 16 videos

Austin Goolsbee

'Jaw-dropping number:' Ex Obama economic adviser on the jobs report

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Consumer prices surge and mortgage rates hit 20-year high

02:40

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- Source: CNN

A cashier ringing up a senior couple's groceries so they can pay at their local supermarket.

Jobs economist: Worker shortage may keep inflation high

01:14

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- Source: CNN Business

Manufacturing Jobs Romans DNT 1

Made in America is making a comeback

03:28

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- Source: CNN

Larry Summers SCREENGRAB 10/6/2022

Hear what Larry Summers thinks about a possible recession

01:15

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Patrick De Haan GasBuddy

What the OPEC+ production cut means for US gas prices

03:56

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DOLLAR

Here are 3 reasons why the US dollar is so strong

Ron DeSantis

How businesses in need of labor reacted to DeSantis sending away potential workers

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 26: A view of the Marriner S. Eccles Federal Reserve building on January 26, 2022 in Washington, DC. Following a two day meeting, Federal Reserve officials are set to release their January monetary policy decision which economists predict could be an increase in interest rates. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Recession jitters and the trickling impact on Americans

inflation family

'I need to cut back on things': Family reacts to surging food prices

01:01

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Billionaire investor: Powell would 'say he made a mistake' with inflation

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Companies want workers back in office. Workers aren't so sure

03:42

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high utility bill

'I can't withstand the heat': Americans behind on utility bills face extreme weather

02:38

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Justin Wolfer Jerome Powell split

'Both a warning and a threat': Economics professor decodes Fed chair's comments

01:52

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02 Jerome Powell Jackson Hole Economic Symposium Opening Remarks 0826 SCREENSHOT

Fed chair lays out the 'unfortunate costs of reducing inflation'

02:17

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Christine Romans 0825

Biden's student loan forgiveness plan: Who it helps, who it doesn't

04:06

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Minneapolis CNN Business

Despite fears of a recession, the labor market is showing no signs of weakening. The number of first-time claims for unemployment benefits fell by 6,000 to 222,000 for the week ended September 3, according to Department of Labor data released Thursday.

The initial weekly claims figure, which is at its lowest level in just over three months, is below the previous week's downwardly revised level of 228,000 and lower than economists' expectations of 240,000, according to Refinitiv estimates.

Continuing jobless claims for the week ended September 3 increased by 36,000 to 1.47 million, the highest level in nearly five months, according to the Labor Department.

"We don't expect initial claims to continue to fall, but don't look for a sharp spike either," Nancy Vanden Houten, lead US economist with Oxford Economics, told CNN Business. "Even as the economy is weighed down by higher interest rates, labor markets are only starting to loosen slightly. So we think employers will be reluctant to let go of workers, and will slow hiring first."

Vanden Houten added that she expects continuing claims to track more closely with initial claims, and that the latest uptick likely reflects volatility from non-seasonally adjusted estimates provided by California.

The nation's labor market has remained strong despite slumps in other areas of the economy, but has shown hints of deceleration. Following a blowout monthly job gain of 526,000 in July, a more moderate 315,000 jobs were added in August, representing the second-lowest monthly total in 16 months.

August's job gains, however, still remain well above pre-pandemic times, when the monthly average was about 200,000, Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows.

And despite a recent spate of layoff announcements from large firms in sectors such as tech and retail, job openings remain plentiful. In July, the number of available positions ticked up to 11.2 million jobs — almost double the number of unemployed people looking for work.

The weekly initial jobless claims numbers are preliminary and subject to revision.