Initial Jobless Claims at 231,000

US initial jobless claims rose by 22,000 to 231,000 in the last week of January, exceeding expectations of 212,000 and reaching the highest level in nearly two months. Continuing claims also increased by 25,000 to 1.844 million. The rise was largely linked to winter storms that disrupted business activity, though the labor market overall still shows limited hiring and firing. Claims from federal employees, closely watched amid the government shutdown, declined slightly by 230 to 568.