Key Points:
The U.S. labor market continues to show resilience by most measures.
- Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell to a new low over the past year for the week ending July 18.
- This is the lowest level of claims seen since the late 1960s when the civilian labor force was less than half the size it is today.
Initial Claims for Unemployment
Housing permit issuance as a percentage of population remains relatively strong in the Southeast.
- Permit issuance has been weaker in the Northeast and Midwest despite tighter supply conditions.
Cumulative Housing Permit Issuance as a Percentage of 2024 Population
July 2025 to June 2026
