- New claims declined by 3,000 to 209,000 in the week ending May 16.
- Continuing claims rose by 6,000 to 1.782 million.
- The insured unemployment rate was unchanged at 1.2% in the week of May 9.
Introducing
Kathleen Stephansen, CBE
in:Our Authors
Kathleen Stephansen is a Senior Economist for Haver Analytics and an Independent Trustee for the EQAT/VIP/1290 Trust Funds, encompassing the US mutual funds sponsored by the Equitable Life Insurance Company. She is a former Chief Economist of Huawei Technologies USA, Senior Economic Advisor to the Boston Consulting Group, Chief Economist of the American International Group (AIG) and AIG Asset Management’s Senior Strategist and Global Head of Sovereign Research. Prior to joining AIG in 2010, Kathleen held various positions as Chief Economist or Head of Global Research at Aladdin Capital Holdings, Credit Suisse and Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette Securities Corporation.
Kathleen serves on the boards of the Global Interdependence Center (GIC), as Vice-Chair of the GIC College of Central Bankers, is the Treasurer for Economists for Peace and Security (EPS) and is a former board member of the National Association of Business Economics (NABE). She is a member of Chatham House and the Economic Club of New York. She holds an undergraduate degree in economics from the Universite Catholique de Louvain and graduate degrees in economics from the University of New Hampshire (MA) and the London School of Economics (PhD abd).
Publications by Kathleen Stephansen, CBE
USA| May 21 2026U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims Declined in the Week of May 16
USA| May 20 2026U.S. Mortgage Applications dropped in the May 15 Week
- Both applications for loans to purchase and applications for loan refinancing declined in the latest week.
- Interest rate on 30-year fixed-rate loans rose 9bps to 6.73%.
- Average loan size declined.
USA| May 14 2026U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims rose in the Week of May 9
- New claims rose by 12,000 to 211,000.
- Continuing claims rose by 24,000 to 1.782 million.
- The insured unemployment rate was back up to 1.2% in the week of May 2, from the one-week dip to 1.1% the prior week.
USA| May 13 2026U.S. Mortgage Applications Rose in the May 8 Week
- Applications for loans to purchase rose, while applications for loan refinancing declined in the latest week.
- Interest rate on 30-year fixed-rate loans was unchanged at 6.64%.
- Average loan size edged down.
USA| Apr 30 2026U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims dropped in the Week of April 25
- New claims dropped by 26,000 to 189,000.
- Continuing claims declined by 23,000 to 1.785 million.
- The insured unemployment rate remained at 1.2%.
USA| Apr 29 2026U.S. Mortgage Applications Edged Down in the April 24 Week
- Applications for loans to purchase rose, while applications for loan refinancing declined in the latest week.
- Interest rate on 30-year fixed-rate loans rose 1bps to 6.54%.
- Average loan size edged up.
USA| Apr 23 2026U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims Rose in the Week of April 18
- New claims rose by 6,000 to 214,000.
- Continuing claims rose by 12,000 to 1.821 million.
- The insured unemployment rate remained at 1.2%.
Global| Apr 08 2026U.S. Mortgage Applications Edged Down in the April 3 Week
- Signs of stabilization in mortgage applications emerged in the latest week.
- Applications for loans to purchase posted a small increase, while applications for loan refinancing posted a small decline in the latest week.
- Interest rate on 30-year fixed-rate loans eased 8bps to 6.68%.
- Average loan size edged up.
- New claims declined by 9,000 to 202,000.
- Continuing claims rose by 25,000 to 1.841 million.
- The insured unemployment rate remained at 1.2%.
USA| Apr 01 2026U.S. Mortgage Applications Dropped in the March 27 Week
- Both applications for loans to purchase and for loan refinancing dropped in the latest week.
- Interest rate on 30-year fixed-rate loans rose 14bps to 6.76%
- Average loan size declined.
- New claims rose by 5,000 to 210,000.
- Continuing claims declined by 32,000 to 1.819 million, the lowest level for insured unemployment since May 25, 2024.
- The insured unemployment rate remained at 1.2%.
USA| Mar 25 2026U.S. Mortgage Applications Dropped in the March 20 Week
- Both applications for loans to purchase and for loan refinancing dropped in the latest week.
- Double-digit basis-point rises in all interest rates.
- Average loan size declined.
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