Jobless Claims Rise Slightly but Labor Market Remains Healthy
* Initial jobless claims increased by 5,000 to 219,000 for the week ending February 15.
* Analysts expected 215,000 new applications.
* The four-week moving average of jobless claims fell by 1,000 to 215,250.
* Job layoffs remain relatively low, despite signs of a weakening labor market in recent months.
* Employers added 143,000 jobs in January, fewer than December's gains.
* The unemployment rate ticked down to 4%, indicating a strong labor market.
* The Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged in January, but is monitoring inflation and the labor market closely.
* Inflation accelerated in January, raising concerns about the Fed's plans to cut rates.
* Some high-profile companies, including Meta, GM, and Boeing, have announced job cuts in 2023.
* 1.87 million Americans were receiving unemployment benefits as of February 8, up 24,000 from the previous week.