Initial jobless claims take center stage in Thursday’s economic lineup

As traders approach another pivotal day for financial markets on Thursday, August 7, 2025, a crucial economic data release that could sway market dynamics is expected. The spotlight will be on the Initial Jobless Claims report, which serves as a key indicator of the U.S. labor market’s health and could potentially influence Federal Reserve policy decisions.

Major Economic Events to Watch

• 8:30 AM ET - Initial Jobless Claims (Forecast:221K, Previous: 218K): This weekly report measures the number of individuals filing for unemployment insurance for the first time, providing early insight into the job market’s condition.

Other Important Economic Events to Watch

• 8:30 AM ET - Nonfarm Productivity (Forecast:1.9%, Previous: -1.5%): Measures the change in labor efficiency when producing goods and services, excluding the farming industry.

• 8:30 AM ET - Unit Labor Costs (Forecast:1.6%, Previous: 6.6%): Indicates the change in the price businesses pay for labor, a leading indicator of consumer inflation.

• 8:30 AM ET - Continuing Jobless Claims (Forecast:1,950K, Previous: 1,946K): Measures the number of unemployed individuals qualifying for unemployment insurance benefits.

• 10:00 AM ET - FOMC Member Bostic Speaks: Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic’s public engagement may offer clues about future monetary policy.

• 1:00 PM ET - Atlanta Fed GDPNow (Forecast:2.5%, Previous: 2.5%): Provides a running estimate of real GDP growth based on available economic data for the current measured quarter.

• 1:00 PM ET - 30-Year Bond Auction (Previous:4.889%): The yield on the auctioned Treasury Bond indicates investor demand and government borrowing costs.

• 3:00 PM ET - Consumer Credit (Forecast:$7.40B, Previous: $5.10B): Measures the change in outstanding consumer credit requiring installment payments.

• 4:30 PM ET - Fed’s Balance Sheet (Previous:$6,643B): Discloses the Federal Reserve System’s assets and liabilities.

• 4:30 PM ET - Reserve balances with Federal Reserve Banks (Previous:$3.300T): Shows the amount of money depository institutions maintain in their Federal Reserve accounts.

Other Economic Events to Watch

• 8:30 AM ET - Jobless Claims 4-Week Avg. (Previous:221.00K): Smooths weekly jobless claims data for a clearer trend.

• 10:00 AM ET - Wholesale Trade Sales (Previous:-0.3%): Indicates the change in total sales value at the wholesale level.

• 10:00 AM ET - Wholesale Inventories (Forecast:0.2%, Previous: -0.3%): Measures the change in total value of goods held in inventory by wholesalers.

• 10:30 AM ET - Natural Gas Storage (Forecast:10B, Previous: 48B): Measures the change in natural gas held in underground storage.

• 11:00 AM ET - NY Fed 1-Year Consumer Inflation Expectations (Previous:3.0%): Provides insight into consumer expectations for inflation.

• 11:30 AM ET - 4-Week Bill Auction (Previous:4.290%): Indicates short-term government borrowing costs.

• 11:30 AM ET - 8-Week Bill Auction (Previous:4.290%): Another indicator of short-term government borrowing costs.

For further information and the latest updates, please refer to our Economic Calendar, here.

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