US jobless claims for the fourth week of January 2025 increased to 209,000, exceeding economist forecasts of 206,000. This marks the second consecutive week claims have surpassed the 200,000 threshold, indicating a shift in the labor market. The four-week moving average rose slightly to 207,250, while continuing claims increased to 1.865 million. The rise in claims is attributed to seasonal adjustments post-holiday, industry restructuring in technology and manufacturing, and geographic employment shifts. Despite the increase, claims remain below recessionary levels, suggesting normalization rather than deterioration. Financial markets reacted with lower Treasury yields, reflecting expectations of cautious Federal Reserve interest rate policy.