Haver Analytics
Haver Analytics

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    | Jan 22 2026

    U.S. Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance Edged Up in Latest Week

    Initial claims for unemployment insurance edged up 1,000 to 200,000 in the week ending January 17, from 199,000 in the week ending January 10, revised from 198,000. The four-week moving average of initial claims was 201,500 in the January 17 week, down 3,750 from 205,250 in the January 10 week, revised from 205,000, and reaching the lowest level for this average since January 13, 2024, when it was 200,000.

    Federal government employees initially filed 1010 (NSA) jobless insurance claims in the week ended January 10, after filing 646 (NSA) claims in the week ended January 3.

    The total number of unemployment insurance beneficiaries – also known as “continuing claims” –decreased by 26,000 to 1.849 million in the week ended January 10 from 1.875 million in the week ending January 3, revised from 1.884 million. The four-week moving average was 1.871 million in the latest week, down from 1.887 million in the January 3 week, revised from 1.889 million. The insured unemployment rate remained at 1.2% in the week of January 10, unchanged from previous 6 weeks.

    Federal government employees’ continuing benefits claims were 12,977 (NSA) in the week ending January 3, from 12,803 (NSA) in the week of December 27.

    The insured unemployment rate varied greatly across individual states and territories. In the week ending January 3, the highest unemployment rates were in Rhode Island (3.27%), New Jersey (3.17%), Washington (2.85%), Minnesota (2.75%), Massachusetts (2.74%), Oregon (2.37%), Connecticut (2.31%), Montana (2.26%), California (2.21%), and Alaska (2.06%). The lowest rates were in Florida (0.29%), North Carolina (0.40%), and Louisiana (0.43%). Rates in other notable states include New York (2.28%), Pennsylvania (2.23%), Illinois (2.21%), and Texas (1.14%). These state data are not seasonally adjusted.

    Data on weekly unemployment claims are from the Department of Labor itself, not the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They begin in 1967 and are contained in Haver’s WEEKLY database and summarized monthly in USECON. Data for individual states are in REGIONW back to December 1986.

    by:Kathleen Stephansen, CBE

    |in:Economy in Brief

  • USA    | Jan 21 2026

    U.S. Mortgage Applications Continue to Surge in the Week of January 16

    • Purchase and refinancing loan applications posted healthy rises in the latest week.
    • Effective interest rate on 30-year fixed loans fell to 6.32%.
    • Average loan size rose.

    by:Kathleen Stephansen, CBE

    |in:Economy in Brief

  • USA    | Jan 15 2026

    U.S. Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance Declined in Latest Week

    • Initial claims declined from the prior week.
    • Continuing claims declined from the prior week.
    • The insured unemployment rate was unchanged.

    by:Kathleen Stephansen, CBE

    |in:Economy in Brief

  • USA    | Jan 14 2026

    U.S. Mortgage Applications Surged in the Week of January 9

    • Purchase and refinancing loan applications jumped in the latest week.
    • Effective interest rate on 30-year fixed loans fell to 6.35%.
    • Average loan size rose.

    by:Kathleen Stephansen, CBE

    |in:Economy in Brief

  • USA    | Jan 08 2026

    U.S. Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance Rose in Latest Week

    • Initial claims rose moderately from the prior week.
    • Continuing claims increased from the prior week.
    • The insured unemployment rate was unchanged.

    by:Kathleen Stephansen, CBE

    |in:Economy in Brief

  • USA    | Jan 07 2026

    U.S. Mortgage Applications Edged Up in the Week of January 2

    • Purchase applications dropped while refinancing loan applications rose in the latest week.
    • Effective interest rate on 30-year fixed loans fell to 6.42%.
    • Average loan size declined.

    by:Kathleen Stephansen, CBE

    |in:Economy in Brief

  • USA    | Dec 31 2025

    U.S. Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance Dropped Again in Latest Week

    • Initial claims declined from the prior week.
    • Continuing claims declined from the prior week.
    • The insured unemployment rate was unchanged.

    by:Kathleen Stephansen, CBE

    |in:Economy in Brief

  • USA    | Dec 24 2025

    U.S. Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance Dropped in Latest Week

    • Initial claims declined from the prior week.
    • Continuing claims rose from the prior week.
    • The insured unemployment rate edged up.

    by:Kathleen Stephansen, CBE

    |in:Economy in Brief

  • USA    | Dec 24 2025

    U.S. Mortgage Applications Dropped in the Week of December 19

    • Both purchase applications and refinancing loan applications fell in the latest week.
    • Effective interest rate on 30-year fixed loans fell to 6.48%.
    • Average loan size edged down.

    by:Kathleen Stephansen, CBE

    |in:Economy in Brief

  • USA    | Dec 18 2025

    U.S. Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance Eased in Latest Week

    • Initial claims dropped from the prior week.
    • Continuing claims rebounded from the prior week sharp decline.
    • The insured unemployment rate was unchanged.

    by:Kathleen Stephansen, CBE

    |in:Economy in Brief

  • USA    | Dec 17 2025

    U.S. Mortgage Applications Retreated in the Week of December 12

    • Purchase applications fell 2.8% w/w; refinancing loan applications fell 3.6% w/w.
    • Effective interest rate on 30-year fixed loans rose to 6.56%.
    • Average loan size rose moderately.

    by:Kathleen Stephansen, CBE

    |in:Economy in Brief

  • USA    | Dec 11 2025

    U.S. Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance Rose in Latest Week

    Initial claims for unemployment insurance rose 44,000 to 236,000 during the week of December 6, after declining to 192,000 during the week of November 29, revised from 191,000. The four-week moving average of initial claims was 216,750, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week unrevised average of 214,750, which was the lowest level since January 2025.

    Federal government employees initially filed 643 (NSA) jobless insurance claims in the week ended November 29, after 1,126 filed in the week ended November 22, revised from 1,125.

    Continuing claims for unemployment insurance posted a sharp decline of 99,000 to 1,838,000 in the week ending November 29, from 1,937,000 the prior week, revised from 1.939 million. The four-week moving average decreased by 27,000 to 1,918,000 in the week ended November 29, from 1945,250 the prior week, revised from 1.945 million. The insured unemployment rate stood at 1.2% in the week of November 29, a decrease from 1.3% in the prior week.

    Federal government employees continuing benefits fell to 12,732 (NSA) in the week ended November 22, from 17,862 in the week ended November 15, revised from 17,851.

    The insured unemployment rate varied greatly across individual states and territories. In the week ended November 22, the highest unemployment rates were in New Jersey (2.18%), Washington (2.23%), Massachusetts (1.95%), Connecticut (1.83%) and Rhode Island (1.82%). The lowest rates were in Florida (0.27%), South Dakota (0.34%), North Carolina (0.39%), Louisiana (0.42%), Alabama (0.44%), Virginia and Tennessee (both 0.46%), and Arkansas and Nebraska (both 0.48%). Rates in other notable states include California (1.74%), New York (1.63%), Pennsylvania (1.46%), Illinois (1.45%), and Texas (1.07%). These state data are not seasonally adjusted.

    Data on weekly unemployment claims are from the Department of Labor itself, not the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They begin in 1967 and are contained in Haver’s WEEKLY database and summarized monthly in USECON. Data for individual states are in REGIONW back to December 1986.

    by:Kathleen Stephansen, CBE

    |in:Economy in Brief