April 23, 2026
United States:
US Jobless Claims Edge Up to 214,000 as Layoffs Stay Limited
Applications for US unemployment benefits rose last week, though they remain at a level consistent with low layoffs.
Initial claims increased by 6,000 to 214,000 in the week ended April 18, according to Labor Department data released Thursday.
Europe:
Euro-Zone Private Sector Unexpectedly Shrinks as Services Slump
Business activity in the euro area unexpectedly shrank for the first time since late 2024 due to a steep drop in the services sector as the Iran war weighs on consumers.
The Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index compiled by S&P Global declined to 48.6 in April from 50.7 the previous month, dropping below the 50 threshold separating growth from contraction.
Asia:
Japan’s PMI Points to War-Driven Frontloading of Factory Output
Japan’s manufacturers ramped up production to the highest level in 12 years in a sign of frontloading amid concerns over the implications of the war in the Middle East.
The S&P Global purchasing managers’ index for factory output climbed to 55.4 in April, the strongest reading since February 2014, S&P Global reported Thursday.
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